I posted a review of my reading at the end of the first quarter in 2021, and now I am doing the same for my reading in the second quarter of the year. That first review summarized my 2021 reading plan, so I will not repeat a summary here. The total number of volumes read dropped a little in the second quarter, which may be explained by several factors, including doing more partial reading of multiple books that have not (yet) been finished and entered into the log. I am also spending more time on language study which reduces the amount of available time for reading physical books or listening to audiobooks in English.
In the second quarter of 2021 I finished twenty-one books (down from twenty-five in the first quarter). These included nine works of theology, including a couple of R. C. Sproul classics I re-read; three books that I categorize as self-development, including a book on habits, another on leadership, and a collection of essays on the study of the martial arts; and nine novels. I am always reading at least one novel, and I highly recommend a steady diet of good novels and classic literature, especially for those who dismiss fiction in preference for non-fiction. One of the novels was Charles Portis’s True Grit which I read aloud to my sons and which we thoroughly enjoyed. A couple of others were modern classics I regularly re-read: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (about which I plan to write in a separate post) and The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien. There were also a couple of P. G. Wodehouse novels, G. K. Chesterton’s first novel which I had never read, two mid-twentieth century classics I had never read, and a more recent novel sent by my friend for my birthday.
At the midpoint of the year, I am behind in a few categories of planned reading and significantly ahead in others. I am satisfied with the overall balance thus far, even if the second quarter was rather unbalanced. I am fairly confident I will hit my targets in most of the categories by the end of the year. I enjoyed my reading during the last three months, though not as much overall as in the first quarter. Here are three highlights I would recommend.
First, Mark Horne’s Solomon Says: Directives for Young Men is a must-read for men, and I will be urging every member of our Session and every man in our congregation to read it. While I have a few quibbles with the book, they are minor and in no way detract from my appreciation for and eagerness to recommend and use this little volume in discipling men. Do not let the subtitle fool you. Middle-aged and older men will likewise benefit from reading and applying the exposition of biblical wisdom in this concise but very useful primer.
Second, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card is one of two science fiction novels I think every young man should read. Parents should be aware there is some language and disturbing content in the book, but young men in their early to mid-teens should be capable of handling it. There is a good reason this novel is required reading for Marine Corps officers. It is a brilliant work, highly philosophical as is all good sci-fi.
Third, P. G. Wodehouse slays me. If you do not enjoy British humor, you may not be as entertained by Wodehouse as I am. Listening to a Wodehouse audiobook while driving might be considered a reckless act as I may one day die laughing behind the wheel while Driving with Amusement. Visitors to my house who have never read Wodehouse are often subjected to a read-aloud of one of his short stories, My Battle with Drink. Wodehouse was a prolific writer, and not all of his stories and novels are equally hilarious. But if you have not laughed loudly recently while reading an entertaining story, I recommend Mr. Wodehouse for your enjoyment. --JME
