In the beautiful state of Washington there is a town called Snohomish. In the town of Snohomish lies a great, grassy field. Upon the field there sits an air-conditioned trailer stocked with necessary amenities such as Gatorade and a veggie platter. Inside the trailer you will find a half-asleep, fuzzy-headed guy wearing an old, white v-neck shirt. Yep, that’s me.
This morning I woke up in Oceanside, California and hopped on a flight bound for Seattle. During the flight, I finished the last half of a book called, “The City of Ember”. A while back I saw a preview of a movie called by the same name. The small bits of the plot I gathered must have stuck with me because months after I had seen the preview I came across the book in a well known book selling establishment, and in my desperation for free in-flight entertainment I snatched the book off the shelf. With only a few hundred pages and rather large font it is an easier read, but I’ve never been one to be intimidated by a book meant for minds a bit younger than my own so I read on. The plot is fairly simple, There is a city called Ember whose only light comes from massive floodlights raised high over the heads of the several hundred inhabitants of the town. There is no sun, nor moon, nor stars. The sky is blackness. All around the city there is blackness. The town holds no trees, or grass, or hills. There is just the city itself with its buildings and storehouses and pale people living their pale lives. And there are problems in the city. It is old. It is breaking. It is dying, and the generator that makes life possible in Ember is on its last leg. Soon there will be no light left to live by. But in the midst of the gloom there is hope. Those who built the city hundreds of years earlier have left instructions explaining how to get out. They had been lost until now…
Without going into too much detail (I wouldn’t dream of spoiling it for you). This book, whether the author meant to or not, was quite the spiritual allegory. Now, I am the last person to try to discover some obscure hidden meaning within a book. I tend to love the story for the story itself. But this books message seemed to out front to ignore. A world shrouded in darkness, the end inevitable, a solution so clear yet so ignored, and all it took were a few people with conviction to believe and to hope. A little cheesy? Maybe. A little familiar? Yes, at least I think so. If you got a few extra hours on your hands read it and let me know what you think about it. In fact, what are you guys reading? Anything interesting? Fun? Exciting? Moving? Let us discuss!!!!
So like I said before, I’m in Washington. I’m playing a summer festival here. I think I go on about 10:00 PM which is about three hours from now. Wish you all could be here!
See ya
-p
Wow. might just have to pick this one up!
That sounds pretty awesome, I’ll have to check that out.
I’m currently reading “Half Life/Die Already” by Mark Steele. I actually know him and his family. Amazing people.
Mark has an incredible, painful, hilarious, profound story. This book is a lot darker than his first one (titled: Flashbang). It’s autobiographical in nature, but very much oriented with a spiritual theme of dying to ourselves. It’s the kind of book you need to read to the end to have it all tie together. Mark is one of the best storytellers I have yet to encounter.
City of Ember sounds like an interesting read, for sure. Next time I fly, maybe I’ll pick it up. =) Enjoy the Pacific Northwest!
about to read mere christianity. pretty pumped.
that sounds like a good one :]
the last book i just finished was “The Five People You Meet in Heaven”, which was for school. i liked it a lot.. makes you think, which is always a good thing ;]
anywho, i cant wait to see u in september phil :] its been a while. hope all is well
god bless,
amanda**
I think you should write a book Phil. I know I’d read it. You write beautifully- very poetic.
I’ve just finished reading a biography/autobiography about director Tim Burton. I bought it because I take film studies at 6th form college and I am doing a project/presentation on him.
Some of my favourite books are What’s Eating Gilbert Grape by Peter Hedges- its very honest, a little brutal at times but a brilliant read. I also love The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis. And another favourite is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I have quite an eclectic taste to say the least.
Your book sounded quite interesing Phil. If I ever come across it, I’ll be sure to pick it up.
I hope the festival went well anyway. Take care.
God bless
Faye
xx
I just saw the trailer for City of Ember last night. The fam and I went to see Clone Wars. I knew of this book though, as I am a homeschool mom and wanted my oldest son to read it. He didn’t! I think now he will want to since he saw the preview.
I am presently reading The Return of the King because I am teaching a class on The Lord of the Rings for 7th-10th grade this fall. I am excited because of the obvious when you deal with LOTR—the many virtuous themes and the layers of symbols pertaining to God. Wish I could play and sing “Battle of Evermore” for effect, but I don’t have a voice like Robert Plant! Hair, maybe, but not a voice!
I am also reading No Man Knows my History by Fawn Brodie (you may find it interesting). It is a biography of Joseph Smith, the prophet of the Mormon religion. My husband has studied Mormonism very extensively so I naturally have an interest.
A book that you may find very fascinating that I would recommend if you have not read it already is Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis. I am teaching a class on that book the following semester and it is INCREDIBLE. I think it is one of my favorite books. It is a retelling of the Cupid and Psyche myth and at least for me, I thought I could read the book of Job right along side it. I have a feeling Lewis was heavily influenced by Job when he wrote this. It is a beautiful story and a beautiful message.
I will, however, pick up City of Ember.
Hi Phil,
That festival was made complete by your pointing us to our amazing Creator, who loves us incredibly, without end. Thank you for being the conduit for a time of worship that my soul was craving. Thanks for listening to me, I meant every word, because I wanted to encourage you to keep going, keeping your eyes and heart on the One who is your inspiration.
I am reading a book called Keeper of the Bees, by Gene Stratton Porter. I have been a bookworm since I learned to read, and I particularly like reading books that are written around the turn of the century, like this one. There is a sweetness and honesty about how the characters think about God which I love. The first paragraph of the book of Little Men is one of my favorite passages ever, because it is a word picture of how we can be to those who don’t yet know the love and acceptance of their Creator.
Thank you again,
Stephanie
hey phil,
that sounds like an awesome book! i’ll have to check it out!
i’m currently reading Wide Awake by Erwin McManus, Crazy Love by Francis Chan, and Pop Goes the Church by Tim Stevens….great books, check em out man!
I read the “City of Ember” along time ago and I enjoyed it,but I didn’t know that there was a movie coming out about it.
I am currently reading “Don’t waste your life” by John Pipier, and I am about to start “The Man Who Was Thursday” by G.K. Chesterton.
These are the books I’m reading besides the Bible.
All For His Son’s Glory
I am currently reading “They Like Jesus, But Not the Church” by Dan Kimball. This book has enlightened me so much about how perspectives, stereotypes, and presumptions that many “non-church” people have about the church itself. Great read for church members/leaders as well as for people that they don’t like church. Sometimes people confuse rules & religion with a relationship with God and this book helps to clarify that.
Currently reading, Joyce Meyer’s “Battlefield of the Mind”. Great book! I will check out some of these others everyone is talking about! Keep on keeping on!
City of Ember sounds like a book I would be into. I’m not too much of a reader but something about plot seems very interesting to me
I hear many people reading “Christian” books, but not many reading good books and seeing God in them, whether they are written by Christians or not. The way He works in and through our ordinary lives comes to life in so many books, fiction and non-fiction alike. I heard a pastor say once that he never read anything but the Bible because he didn’t want to be led astray. We must have the faith that He is constant, and if our heart is towards him, we won’t be turned aside from the path, and also not live in fear that our belief in God will be stolen from us. Just a thought.
Phil, book sounds pretty Cool. Im your age and also enjoy books you may have read at a younger age. I recently got in to jack london stuff after seeing the movie “Into the wild” First I read Call of the wild. Amazing, Then Whit Fang. Almost as fantastic. I then picked up Walden. Not as good and I didnt finish it. (Famous though. But then I read the book Into the Wild. Best book I’d ever written. I related. It is a must read. Im sure you would love it and the book truly is 1000 times better than the movie. Ive never been a huge reader. Then I realized I was reading the wrong books and fell in love with it. Currently I jumped head first into Moby Dick. I’ve never read on that big. LOL. But it is the best fiction ive ever read. Who knew? The Classics man. Any way. I haven’t been able to pick it up for about the last 2 weeks because I was finishing my record. Lee bridges mixed it and Dan Shike is mastering it right now. Check it out if you get a chance. http://www.LukeHuch.com Latter Bro.
Right Now I’m reading The Robe by Llord C. Douglas and There is no me without you by Melissa Fay Green. I love anything from Francine Rivers. Her mark of the lion series is really good and so is the Atonement Child.
Hey, I’ve read this book and it’s sequel. I hear a third one is out or coming out too.
I know from reading many of your previous blog entries that I don’t need to suggest any Lewis, Tolkien, Pilgrim’s Progress stuff - as you have already read most all that. So for my suggestion I’ll say “The Shack”. You’ve prob already read this, but if not you have got to check it out. It is a really easy read as far as style, lang, flow. But, be forewarned…this book is no joke. I chose to read it in one setting over the weekend. Also, I read it alone (not on an airplane or at rehearsals or surrounded by a bunch of people I don’t know). Okay, I guess I’ll just come right out and admit it… I cried. Not like “one glistening tear” cried. Like “shoulders shaking, snot drippin’, blothchy red-faced” cry. So there, don’t you really want to go read it now?! Come on, don’t be scared. LOL!!!
Truly though - this is a phenomenal book that God has His hand all over. Read it and let us know what happens inside your spirit when you do.
In Christ - Melody Milbrandt
I have that on my list of books to read, it was recommended to me twice in one day, so I am pretty interested in it. I think I will have to buy it, though, because when I tried to put a hold on it at the library, I was #4738439 in the holds list.
i read this a few years ago, it was a good book! um right now im a junior taking 3 college classes along with chem and algebra II so i have NO freetime, but i made some to come check out how you were doing Phily! i love reading and im sad i dont have more time too. curently im trying to read death of a salesman by saturday morning (on top of homework) the scarlet letter, a great improvisation: franklin, france, and the birth of america, while trying to learn about howard hughes for psychology. whew. thats without french chem and math! im tired already! ya know, if youre every feeling crazy, read about howard, very interesting. oh Phil i cant wait for sunday!!! i get to see you!!!! im so excited!!!!!!!!! maybe i can get some reading done on the 4 hour drive =]
see ya then!
<3 keely
Looks like a good book!
Maybe i’ll pick it up when i have the time.
RIght now im reading “My Sister’s Keeper”.
Well, its for summer reading we have for school..
but its actually a really good book.
It’s about a 13- year-old teen named Anna Fitzgerald. Ever since Anna was born, she was conceived as a donor for her sister Kate, who is 16 and has leukemia. She has donated genetic material throughout her life, and the latest donation is to give her kidney to Kate. She then decides to get help from an attorney, Campbell Alexander, to sue her parents for rights to her own body (medical emancipation). If she wins the lawsuit, she would not have to donate.
I definitely recommend this book. Its really interesting! And I haven’t even finished it yet.
Read that book a few years ago and just re-read it about a month ago. The sequel People of Sparks is good as well and the Prequel the Prophet of Yonen. The City of Ember is still my favorite of the three.
Another series that might catch your attention if you like that one is: Gregor the Overlander from the Underland Chronicles.
There are about a thousand really good teen and even some kids book out there that are good to read even for adults. The Twilight Series isn’t bad either. Oh and one more series you have to read is: Inheart and Inkspell. She hasn’t released the third one Inksdawn into English yet but those are some very good kids books. They are making Inkspell into a movie set to release soon.
I got it from the library today and I can’t put it down:) I will enjoy reading this to my kids. Even though all but one is reading, they still love a good read aloud. Another good book is called Savvy, about a family in which each one gets a special power when they turn 13. Very interesting, it made me think about we each have gifts to use when they are needed.
Hey Phil and friends! I just read “The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel…literally just finished 20 minutes ago… awesome of course. I strongly recommend it to every believer and none. It is a great tool for witnessing. I am beginning “The Case for a Creator” and because I have commitment phobia/ADD to one book at a time I also have a copy of “A Tale of Two Sons” by Johnny Mac (John MacArthur) based on the prodigal son. I have a dream list of books I want to read. Some authors include- Francis Chan, Donald Miller and John Piper. I saw those names a time or two on other responses and I wanted to know what yall (I live in the South) thought about their books.
“Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.” Jude 1:2
I am currently reading a lot of things.
I’m an English major… so, it’s kind of a requirement.
I’m reading 3 books right now
-The Awakening by Kate Chopin (School)
-Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (School)
-Amanda by Debra White Smith (Pleasure)
The Awakening is a feminist book pretty much… this is my third read-through of it. It’s set in the Victorian era around the French Quarter of Louisiana. I’m one of the few who believes the ending isn’t what it seems… the ending seems very tragic but I believe it’s just the beginning of the main character’s life of hope and freedom.
Frankenstein…. i think everyone pretty much knows about it. It’s alright. Not my fave… but it’s okay. It’s kind of boring to me, actually. But I have to read it.
Amanda by Debra White Smith. Debra White Smith is a Christian author who I have come to really like. I think you would like her too because I know you have read and enjoyed Jane Austen. (By the by, did you ever get to read Emma?) Anyways, Debra White Smith has taken it upon herself to take Jane Austen’s novels and produce her own modern and Christian-based versions. Amanda is Smith’s version of Emma. I’ve already read her version of Pride & Prejudice (First Impressions) and Persuasion (Possibilities). They’re fantastic!
Over the course of this semester I will also be reading:
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
- Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
- A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf
- Beloved by Toni Morrison
- Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
and for pleasure I’ll hopefully be reading:
- (continuing… I’ve read Hitchikers Guide and The Restaurant at the End of the Universe) The Hitchikers Guide for the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
- Becoming Jane by Jon Spence
- Bible… I want to do some major in-depth studies in the Gospels because I’m the head of our church’s Bible Quizzing Department and we’re studying Matthew-John.
that’s my reading for this year
it’s a whole lot…. and it’s definitely not all i’ll be reading because I’m also taking a correspondence class from my university and i’ll be writing 30 more papers and reading 15 more pieces including novels, poetry, short stories, etc.
I’m swamped… but that’s an English major…. i’m finally a Senior!!! So, this is it!!!
Happy Reading!!!
Hi Britney,
My husband was an English major. Good for you. He enjoyed his schooling and learned tons that now really helps us in homeschooling our kids. I remember him saying that he chose to opt out of reading Beloved. I am curious about your reaction to it. My husband is not a person that would normally choose to do that, and it ended up not really affecting his grade. He said he felt sick when he read it, and wondered why sometimes these sorts of books end up on reading lists.
What do you plan on doing with your major?
I haven’t read Beloved yet… So, I don’t know. I’ll look into the novel though before I read it. I am not surprised that any book would be on a reading list at a liberal arts college though, like mine. So, i suppose i’ll see.
I am planning on being a high school Enlgish teacher and hopefully a professor someday teaching the works of the lovely Jane Austen if you couldn’t tell that I love Jane Austen. haha. I also want to write. I write poetry, music, political pieces, reviews, and of course I have to write papers for my english classes, but I love to write. I’m currently working on my future thesis on Jane Austen. I have 40 pages written so far… you basically have to write a book for a Doctorate in English. haha.
The description you gave was very vivid… and sounds like a cool book with a cool story. If I see it on the bookshelf at borders I’ll pick it up. I read “IRRESISTIBLE REVOLUTION” by Shane Claiborne a few months ago and it transformed how I look at other people. anyone, friends, homeless, classmates, students, elderly, coworkers, bosses, others in authority, kids in africa, everyone… It’s about living a radical lifestlye of love and I’d be surprised if you haven’t heard of it b/c your attitude and lyrics are almost in sync with what Claiborne talks about in the book. And the first chapter is almost a verbatim story of the christian sheltered childhood i grew up in, along with many of us. Pass on anymore good reads you find!
~Delaina
Hey Phil thanx for the suggestion I’m picking it up tomorrow. And I plan on reading it quickly.
God bless you always.
Hey Phil. I had seen the same trailer back aways and it also had stuck to me as trailers often do; I’m a sucker for them. I just recently saw the movie and don’t know if you have already or not. But I definitely recommend it. I’d definitely say its geared for an older kids age group but anyone with half a soul can enjoy it as I did.
The whole story does seem to have the shroud of spiritual struggle and is definitely one of hope. Its a rare gem of a movie thats just generally uplifting and entertaining. While not some kind of epic or blockbuster it is captivating and interesting and personally I loved it.
But definitely see it when you get the chance.
-Dean