The Reason for God

Here's a link to a video of
Tim Keller, author of
The Reason for God,
our book of the Summer. In this short video he gives the basic reasons for writing the book.

There will be a few more posts coming soon with some fresh discussion questions.

For now, what have been your opening impressions of the book?

Enjoy the clip!
The Reason for God-Clip

A Tale of Two Cities

This month the Codex Book Club is reading Charles Dickens' classic A Tale of Two Cities. A monumental work from one of the greatest literary figures in history.

We'll be meeting to discuss the book on Thursday night, April 24th.
The location for the meeting hasn't been decided, but be sure to check back here regularly for more details.

Our first point of discussion is a simple question...

How do you respond to Dickens' style of writing? His choice of words and vocabulary is spectacular, what are some of the challenges reading a work like this?

The times Dickens' describes are not pretty. Early on in the book, there's a scene in which a box of wine breaks and pours out onto the street. The onlooking people quickly run to drink up the spilled wine, some lapping it up through the mud. How does the conditions of society early on in the book play into the story?

Happy reading!

Culture's Father

The first discussion question for The Kite Runner deals with the culture of Afghanistan. As you read the opening chapters of the book, what's your reactions to Afghan culture?

Were you surprised by the way in which the author portrayed his upbringing?

Finally, the relationship between Amir and his father is a fascinating one. How does Amir's hopes for his relationship with his father effect the rest of is early life?

We hope you're reading and enjoying The Kite Runner.
Let the discussion begin.

Happy reading.

The Kite Runner

Thanks to all of you who joined us for our discussion of The Road last Thursday night. We had a great time, with very spirited discussion. When our discussion and thoughts are as passionate and interesting as they were the other night, that's a good sign you've engaged a great piece of writing.

This month Codex is looking to another recent novel. One with political, social, and religious tones throughout. The Kite Runner has been on best seller lists throughout the past year around the world. Right now, you can find a paperback copy in almost every Starbucks in the country.

The book has also been made into a feature motion picture, picking up many nominations during this current award season.

To describe it, here's what the New York Times Book Review says:

This powerful first novel...tells a story of fierce cruelty and fierce yet redeeming love. Both transform the life of Amir, Hhaled Hosseini's privileged young narrator, who comes of age during the last peaceful days of the monarchy, just before his country's revolution and its invasion by Russian forces. But political events, even as dramatic as the ones that are presented in The Kite Runner, are only a part of this story. In The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini gives us a vivid and engaging story that reminds us how long his people have been struggling to triumph over the forces of violence- forces that continue to threaten them even today.

When we decided to read The Kite Runner this next month, we all expressed an interest in learning more about Islamic culture. In these days, it is incredibly important to gain insight and perspective in our world. The Kite Runner gives us a glimpse into a world so vastly different than our own. And from all accounts, it's a page turner!

Our next scheduled Codex meeting will be Thursday night, February 21st. Time and Location TBA.

As always, we encourage your input and discussion, as well as your recommendations for reading over the next few months. Look for the first discussion question for The Kite Runner to be posted later this week.

Happy reading!

Backstory

Hey everyone, here's our first discussion question for The Road:

Throughout the opening pages, we get brief glimpses into the "backstory" of life before the world's current state. How do the scenes briefly given to us before the calamity, influence our thoughts of the story as it progresses?

Any interesting observations?

Happy Reading.

The Road

This month's book is by acclaimed novelist Cormac McCarthy. His work includes prize winning novels including Blood Meridian and No Country for Old Men. Both of those books have been adapted recently into major motion pictures. you can find McCarthy's webpage on the links to the right.

The Road is a challenge for us. It will test our emotions and stamina. But I encourage all of you to press on.

You can find The Road at any major bookseller (Barnes and Noble, Borders, Books a Million, Amazon, etc...)

Over the next week or so we'll place a question up on the site for your discussion and thoughts. For those of you who were not with us last month, we hope you'll join us this month, and if there are friends you think may be interested this month, invite them along for the ride with us.

Happy reading!

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Codex Book Club is tonight @ 7:30pm.

We're meeting in the social room of the Ocean Place Building, where Diane DiSibio lives. If you need more information, or directions, email Phil @ pletizia@newcovenantfl.org.

We hope you all be able to make it or some good conversation, and some great wine and cheese!

See you tonight.