finitum non capax infiniti

Tomorrow circa de 12.00p I will be done with finals this semester. Cogito ergo sum, I’m looking forward to relaxing for a while and really looking forward to spending my time reading books that interest me. There’s definitely a difference between reading a book for class and reading a book for enjoyment. The best times are when those two overlap, which happened most often in my biblical studies courses and my urban ministry electives with Manny Ortiz and Sue Baker (you can’t go wrong with Conn!).

Without further ado, here are the books I’m looking forward to reading over the Christmas break:

Unlocking Romans: Resurrection and the Justification of God by J.R. Daniel Kirk

Pride of place goes to Daniel Kirk’s book, which I am very much looking forward to reading. I had the distinct pleasure of hanging out with Daniel at SBL last month and enjoyed his company greatly. I’m very interested to see how Daniel interacts with Dunn, Sanders, Wright, and Hays, who have been very instructive in my understanding of Pauline literature in general and Romans in particular.

Scripture as Communication: Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics by Jeannine K. Brown

I read the first chapter of this book and had to stop because of the work load this semester. I’m looking forward to picking it back up. Brown writes in a very conversational style that is very easy to read, which is important when one is attempting to understand the difference between locution, illocution, and perlocution (especially for a speech-act theory amateur such as myself). Pete writes a blurb on the back of the book, so I know it has to be good!

Old Testament Between Theology and History: A Critical Survey by Neils Peter Lemche

I am about half way through this book and can’t wait to finish it…although then I will be depressed because it will be over. This book has been very enlightening for me, moreso than Lemche’s earlier book Prelude to Israel’s Past. Perhaps this is because Lemche has had more time to crystalize and strengthen his arguments, or perhaps I am just understanding him better in this book.

Florence of Arabia and No Way to Treat a First Lady by Christopher Buckley

My cousin Amy turned me on to Buckley’s Boomsday, which I thought was hilarious, so I borrowed these two from her when I was at her house for dinner last week. Buckley is the author of Thank You For Smoking and his writing is absolutely hilarious. I’m looking forward to the prospect of floating in my pool in Florida while reading these two books!

Signature Classics (Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Abolition of Man, The Great Divorce, The Problem of Pain, Miracles, and A Grief Observed) by C.S. Lewis

I always love to re-read Lewis and am going to pick up where I left off this summer (with The Abolition of Man). Anytime you get the chance to read or re-read Lewis it is always a pleasure. I don’t know too many authors that I have re-read more than Lewis. I think I have read Mere Christianity and The Problem of Pain about 10 times each as well as reading through The Chronicles of Narnia at least 3 full times (although I read The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe at least two more times when I was in the play in high school. I was Aslan…perhaps I’ll post pictures at some point!).

Not quite sure what else I’ll be reading over the break, but I’m sure a few more will pop up, especially as I’m gazing at my father’s library.

As always, any suggestions are welcome!

(Side note, I finished Twilight this past week and am debating on whether or not to get the second book. I’m debating this because I know if I read the second book I will want to read the third and fourth books. I’d like to read them just to “keep it real” and “raise the roof” with the younger generation, “ya feel me.” But I don’t know if the “4-1-1″ is worth me “gettin’ jiggy wit’ it.”)(?)