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Nonfiction, Religious: The Spirit of Peace, Teachings on Love, Compassion, and Everyday Life.

Title: The Spirit of Peace, Teachings on Love, Compassion, and Everyday Life.
Author: His Holiness, the Dalai Lama
Publisher: Harper Collins
Copyright: 2002
159 Pages
Rating: 4.5

Lately, I've been reading a lot of Eastern philosophy and religion, coupled with literature on ancient martial arts. I received a copy of the Dalai Lama's Spirit of Peace as a gift, which is appropriate, as that is how I feel it was written. The book is a gift of insights and advice which we can accept or reject as we see fit. It is given with pure intention and honest gladness.

Most books on Buddhism, unless they deal with specific historical events or figures, are seldom narrative in nature. Buddhist books tend to be referential and are presented in small, bite-sized pieces that can be easily digested.

This book is no exception. No section is much longer than three or four paragraphs at a time, and some are as short as a couple of sentences. To read this book properly, one should read it cover to cover very slowly. Then, if you choose, it should be perused and referred to in a non-linear fashion. Each small piece of wisdom can be taken independently, and can sustain your thoughts or a conversation for some time.

I feel everyone should read this book, as it has a lot to teach. Sadly, many would be put off by some of its more religious/political statements, so let's put it this way: If you're looking for a basic introduction to the spiritual leader of Mahayana, or 'Middle-Path' Buddhism, then you've come to the right place. The text is not overly philosophical or spiritual in nature, but you can find that if you look hard. This text was meant for people who are looking for a little glimpse into Buddhism, through the eyes of one of the best authorities on the subject today.

In particular, the Spirit of Peace spends a good deal of time centering on the Dalai Lama himself and how he came to be where he is today. It's refreshing to read that someone in his position can harbor no hatred or ill-will towards those that put him in exile. That, alone, is a lesson unto itself, but there is far more.

One of the things I really liked about this book is that time was taken to reflect the more human side of the Dalai Lama. I never knew of his interest in gardening, and his skills at fixing clocks and watches. It's sometimes hard to humanize the high and mighty of the world. It's nice to see a world leader who is able to do that for himself.

On the back cover, and throughout the book, you'll see the entire religion of Buddhism summarized into two sentences. They are: 1. Benefit others. and 2. If you cannot benefit others, then at least do not harm them. This is the sagest advice offered in the book, and truly advice for life and living. The book reinforces and explains the ideas present in those two sentences. For each aspect of life, there is a way to be that is offered by this premise, and it is up to the reader to decide how best to implement those ideas. They are not hard to follow, and can bring great happiness to you.

Brandi has asked me to rate this book on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the highest. I give the book a 4.5, only because I wish it were longer. I think that everyone can enjoy this book, and I encourage you to check it out, and perhaps other works by the Dalai Lama, out at your local library. If it doesn't bring you peace, it just might give you something to think about. And that's worth the trip any day.

May all beings be at peace.

Reviewed by: Maxwell.
Maxwell writes the blog Maxwell's Alley.

Fiction/ Science Fiction: The Time Traveler's Wife.

Title: The Time Traveler's Wife
Author: Audrey Niffenegger
Publisher: Harvest Books
Year: 2003
Pages: 536 pages
Rating: 5.

Is the past truly past and the future written in stone? Henry DeTamble knows. The opening chapter of The Time Traveler's Wife lays it all on the line: Henry is a time traveler who cannot control the when, where or how. Time pulls at him like the tides and only Clare Abshire, the woman destined to be his wife, can tie him to the present. Author Audrey Niffenegger takes these simple ground rules and creates a moving story of spectacular scope and humanity: one that is taut, logical, sensual, suspenseful, comic and tragic.

The logic...
of the story is unrelenting. Niffenegger sets down the rules of Henry's time traveling gifts early in the novel: Henry cannot control where he goes, backwards or forwards, cannot carry anything through time that is not a part of him, and cannot change time or, perhaps like most of us, has simply grown to accept his fate. The book never defies those rules, but carefully navigates among high and low notes to produce a fugue-like experience.

The devil...
is in the details. From the soft rustle of clothing to mealtime to sexual congress between man and wife, Niffenegger embues her moments with life and lust. It doesn't hurt that her protagonist constantly arrives naked in his adventures through time, or that constant exercise, good spousal sex and mood-enhancing drugs seem to anchor him in the present. Moving beyond the strictly physical, the joy the characters receive through conversation and experience creates what may seem to be an oxymoron: that of a spiritual sensuality, an atheist's consecration and joy in the feeling of being.

(Bonus: as a special treat to Chicagoans, Niffenegger, like a good Hollywood scout, uses some very picturesque Chicago locations. The observant reader will enjoy magnificent views of the Evanston beach, the University of Chicago, and a slightly anachronistic Magnificent Mile.)

Antici...
pation will be rewarded to the patient reader. Mysteries specific to Henry's travels through time pop up almost from page one, and the author keeps the suspense high until nearly the final word. How does she keep so many plates spinning at once? By acknowledging what most Hollywood blockbusters fail: that love is only the first step. Henry loves Clair; Clair loves Henry. But what happens when she takes him home to meet the family? Will he make it through their wedding? Will Henry learn to control or perhaps abuse his power? To answer these questions would spoil the pleasure of discovery, but it is enough to say that Niffenegger, like God, answers all questions, not always to the benefit of those who ask...

You'll find it funny...
(sometimes) that Henry cannot travel with the usual amenities, clothes included, so the timing of his arrivals and departures vacillates between the tragic and the comic. Those around him learn to tolerate it, but for everyone there is always a first time, and that time is not always linear. Henry must also occasionally assert himself against the elements and people who fail to respect CDPs (Chronologically Displaced Persons), especially when the only clothes he can manage to steal look like castoffs from a gay kindergarten teacher. Henry also has trouble with the authorities, who find that while they can catch him, they can never hold on to him long enough to get even his fingerprints.

The tragedy...
is that the book must end, but it acquits itself well. The Time Traveler's Wife is not "Quantum Leap", "Voyagers" or every other episode of "Star Trek", but is more closely related to Greek drama: we meet a powerful, mythical character cursed with mortal flaws. Henry is not always wise enough about his own condition to do the right thing. Clair, at first a little star-struck by the man whose sudden visits made her childhood a treat, finds in the inverse of his sudden departures a great sadness that is equal parts noble and selfish. Even a time traveler must grow older, and while he can travel to a past in which the living are dead, he knows he must return to a present in which fate is indeed written in stone.

Audience:
1) Chicagoans,
2) runners,
3) science fiction fans willing to look outside the boundaries of the Star Wars/Star Trek franchise,
4) fans of Magical Realism literature
and 5) anyone who has ever known love and loss.

Reviewed by: Matt Larsen.
Matt Larsen is a Chicago-based writer, improviser, graphic designer and sweet husband.

Fiction, Classic: Silas Marner.

THE BARE FACTS
Title: Silas Marner
Author: George Eliot (a pen name of Mary Ann Evans)
Publisher: Signet Classic Date of Publication: 1861 (this edition, 1981)
Pages: 192
Grade That Means Nothing Coming From Me: B+

SO BASICALLY, IT’S ABOUT…
A pathetic miser finds a golden-haired toddler on his doorstep, and learns to let love into his heart.

WHY’D YOU WANNA READ THAT?
A mainstay of the "Books Clair Brought Into the Relationship" section of our personal library, I had long had a passing familiarity with the basics of the plot. So one day, I just made the executive decision that I was going to read it. Hey, it happens sometimes.

AND HOW’D THAT WORK OUT FOR YOU?
Pretty well. Books like this always start off a little shaky, because the language is so arch and roundabout. But our author is crafty, and right from the beginning catches you off guard by throwing in little bits of first-person narration. Eliot knows that she's a storyteller, and that she's anticipating your reaction to the characters in her tale. She actually sounds a tiny bit defensive, and it's the sensation that you're psychically conversing with the author that helps get you through the dense language early on. And she's smart to season the story lightly with this technique. It's just your omniscient narrator, popping in every now and then to see how you're enjoying the meal.

I suppose there could have been a Spoiler Alert up by the synopsis, but even the back cover of my paperback copy of Silas Marner explains how the miserly old weaver is redeemed through the love of a child he finds on his doorstep. This is not an insignificant giveaway. In fact, this is one of the only things that happens in the entire book. This is not a book predicated on action. In fact, the bulk of the novel is devoted to examining various characters' state of mind, and more importantly, how they got that way. Eliot is determined that you not judge anyone prematurely, and indeed, even the least principled person in town is dutifully explained, if not justified.

Here's a surprise: for a book called Silas Marner, there's not so much of our title character, Silas Marner. Throughout much of the book, his story dovetails with that of the local squire, Godfrey Cass, with side trips to the psyches of Godfrey's beloved Nancy, his ne'er-do-well brother, and various neighbors and notable figures in the town of Raveloe. Where the heck is Silas? I spent several chapters missing the title character. And I'm torn on this, because he's a pretty dour fellow for most of the book. It's Eliot's deep sympathy for the guy that generates appreciation for the character. And I can't help but wonder if she knew that too much of him would make him much less appealing. I mean, after seeing what a wretch Godfrey Cass is, you can't help but admire Silas. Oooh, she's a clever one, that George Eliot.

SHOULD I READ THIS?
If you’re someone who loved to have books assigned to you in school, this will be right up your alley. If not, this book might surprise you, since it is shorter and leaner than you might expect from something you’d find on an English literature syllabus.

Reviewed by: Shane Wilson.
Shane Wilson is a writer and contributing editor to The Green Room.

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