Books you should read

Well since I really don't have much to throw out my opinion on right now, I simply want to recommend a couple of fantastic books I've been reading lately.

Searching For God Knows What

I'm rereading a book by Donald Miller, one of my favorite authors, called Searching For God Knows What. This book should be required reading for all Christians, because it shows how our faith is really in a true relationship with God instead of an old religion founded on rules and formulas. It's amazing because it will tell you what your deepest desire in life is, why, and how God ultimately fulfills it--all based on the Bible. The first time I read this book, I felt closer to God than I have ever been. Now, a year later, I'm reading it again and it is helping to mend the wounds and heal the scars in what is now a damaged relationship with God. I couldn't recommend it more.

If you want to understand more about your human nature, the nature of God, and how they go together, then read this book. If you don't--read it anyway. If you are fed up with the traditional, formulaic, and at times false Christianity, then read the book. It's an amazing read, and Donald Miller's writing will keep you turning pages all the way through.

Harry Potter

I have caught a little bit of crap from Christians because I read these books. In fact, one day in a Christian bookstore I saw a book about why Harry Potter is wrong. Well, it's worth mentioning that the next day I went out and bought the first book and started reading, thus beginning my fascination for this wonderful story.

First of all, there is nothing wrong with reading Harry Potter books, no matter how old you are. I've heard many arguments against them and they are all ridiculous--and they all came from people who have never read the book. Yes, it has magic in it. Yes, it has (fake) incantations in it. I have tried to cast spells in the book and it doesn't work. I haven't conjured a patronus and I've never been able to disarm someone by saying "Expelliarmus". Maybe I just suck at magic. Or maybe, just maybe, it's a fiction book and we never could do that anyway.

That being said, the reason these books are so good is not because they have magic in them. I heard once that some guy on TV said the reason Harry Potter books are so successful is because of wish fulfillment. Basically, people are attracted to the idea of being able to wave a wand and make stuff happen. Well, that guy is wrong. The reason that Harry Potter books are so good is because J.K. Rowling is an amazing storyteller. The characters are deep and interesting. The plot leaves you wanting to keep turning pages. In each tale, you will go through every hundred pages like they are a simple newspaper article. They are that good.

If you've seen the movies, you still don't know what I'm talking about. The movies are good, but they don't even compare to the books. In the movies, you basically see the highlight events of book, but rarely get a glimpse into what's going on in the characters' heads, and it is harder to really be interested in them. To truly get the Harry Potter experience, read the books.