tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19515701780654460202024-03-13T16:53:27.848-05:00Hibernator's LibraryRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.comBlogger234125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-67524687819280966702018-04-28T09:45:00.001-05:002018-04-28T09:45:23.068-05:00New Blog!Please visit me at <a href="http://hibernatorslibrary.com/">hibernatorslibrary.com</a>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-34644696111960140502018-02-08T10:26:00.003-06:002018-02-08T21:15:29.169-06:00Killers of the Flower Moon, by David Grann<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Killers of the Flower Moon, by David Grann</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the 1920s, the Osage Indians of Oklahoma were the richest people per capita due to the discovery of oil on their land. The federal government decided that the Osage were not "fit" to make monetary decisions on their own, and they were appointed legal guardians who did anything but guard the safety of their legal charges. O</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ver a period of several years, many rich Osage were murdered (or died suspiciously) in what appears to be a conspiracy among legal guardians to gain control of the wealth. Outlining malicious greed and terror, </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">Killers of the Flower Moon begins by following a specific set of murders that the FBI "solved." Grann then continues the book by describing his own research into other mysterious deaths that happened around the same time. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This book is engaging and terrifying at the same time. It's sadly too easy to believe that people appointed to be "guardians" would act so despicably. It is disgusting and bigoted that the federal government claimed the Osage needed guardians to begin with. Such a tragic story. But one that I think every American should read to understand how the government has treated Native Americans. </span></div>
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-88282516501212191402018-02-07T13:15:00.001-06:002018-02-07T13:26:41.743-06:00Hibernator Hikes the Appalacian (in her mind)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sOWLxJb0PPY/WntJhnBgvaI/AAAAAAAABK4/IX9X0Acva98r4C9kwYDtOPfzKX-nVhCJwCLcBGAs/s1600/Depositphotos_2259751_original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sOWLxJb0PPY/WntJhnBgvaI/AAAAAAAABK4/IX9X0Acva98r4C9kwYDtOPfzKX-nVhCJwCLcBGAs/s640/Depositphotos_2259751_original.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I've always wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail. Big dreams - out of shape woman. (In my defense, I used to be in much better shape, but those days are gone.) So instead I'm going to hike it in my mind, as I try to lose weight for my upcoming wedding. Unfortunately, as well as being out of shape, I'm recovering from leftover breathing problems from the flu, so it may take some effort to start really moving.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Daily goals:</b> get up to 1 hour exercise bike, either lift weights or do an ab workout, 88 oz water, </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><b>Weekly goals:</b> 11,500 calories, <6 Diet Mountain Dews</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><b>Longer term goal:</b> get to 140lbs by the end of December</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Starting weight:</b> 172lbs</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DDw3pT2vUM4/WntMxwo78wI/AAAAAAAABLE/9meLiHayeQEji0iRB1O6f2jum06WOmgHwCLcBGAs/s1600/Appalacian%2BTrail%2BFull.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="672" height="432" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DDw3pT2vUM4/WntMxwo78wI/AAAAAAAABLE/9meLiHayeQEji0iRB1O6f2jum06WOmgHwCLcBGAs/s640/Appalacian%2BTrail%2BFull.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What I will do is keep track of how many "miles" I travel on my exercise bike, and log it as if I were hiking the Appalachian Trail. I will start on Springer Mountain in Chattahoochee National Forest (Georgia). I'm at altitude 3771 feet. </span></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-40233909247993134192018-02-06T08:46:00.004-06:002018-02-06T08:46:58.460-06:00Against the Tide, by Tui T. Sutherland<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Against the Tide, by Tui T. Sutherland</span></td></tr>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">This is the fifth book in Spirit Animals, a middle-grade fantasy series
imagined by Brandon Mull. It continues the story of the four kids who have been
paired to the four fallen Great Beasts rather than to a normal spirit animal. I
won't say more, for fear of spoilers for earlier in the series. </span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Cute book. I like the way this series is written by different authors for
each book, because it introduces me to new authors. This one was quite
enjoyable. I got a couple of good laughs, and it was hard putting this short
book down.</span></span></span></div>
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-20591614918455098532018-02-06T08:44:00.003-06:002018-02-06T08:44:51.160-06:00Roots, by Alex Haley<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Roots, by Alex Haley</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #111111; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the epic story following the family of Kunta Kinte, who
was kidnapped as a teenager from his home in Africa to be a slave in the US.
His family is dramatically followed down the line to Alex Haley, the author.
There is a well-known miniseries based on the book (it was pretty good), as
well as a newer one which I've not seen. The first one follows the book almost
perfectly. For the most part, this was an excellently written character-driven
book. I enjoyed following the family down the generations. Unfortunately, Haley
ruined it by claiming that it was actually his heritage, which it was not. That
was a lie. It was also apparently plagiarized (including even some of the
characters) from another book. :( Knowing that took some of the admiration I
would have otherwise felt for the book. Still, it was quite good...and a good
start for Black History Month.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AN4UpaIrYuM/Vf3R9ZeEhXI/AAAAAAAAAL8/_djnYKiL7HweIonjmwCpsqwDOY90mwLmQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/3.5%2Bsnowflakes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="67" data-original-width="214" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AN4UpaIrYuM/Vf3R9ZeEhXI/AAAAAAAAAL8/_djnYKiL7HweIonjmwCpsqwDOY90mwLmQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/3.5%2Bsnowflakes.png" /></a></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-57443657049186370392018-02-06T08:39:00.002-06:002018-02-06T08:39:53.877-06:00Incarceration Nations, by Baz Dreisinger<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Incarceration Nations, by Baz Dreisinger</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #111111; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dr. Dreisinger travels to different prisons around the world,
giving 2-day seminars to the prisoners and comparing the pros and cons of each
prison system.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; line-height: 200%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I admit this book wasn't quite what I expected. I expected it to
have more complaints (with evidence) about the problems of overincarceration.
Although it did contain such comments, that was not the point of the book. It
was a fascinating description of different prisons throughout the world and
what they were doing right (and wrong) in rehabilitating their inmates. She
left some prisons feeling uplifted and left others feeling quite depressed. I
found the book quite interesting even if it wasn't quite what I expected.</span></span></div>
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-64459018731584185432018-02-06T08:36:00.000-06:002018-02-06T08:36:06.632-06:00American Psychosis, by E. Fuller Torrey<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">American Psychosis, by E. Fuller Torrey</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In this strongly
stated book, Torrey describes how the formation of the National Institute of
Mental Health (NIMH) was formed, accompanied by well-meaning, but ill-planned
federal programs for the out-patient care of mental ill patients and the
emptying of state-funded mental hospitals. Due to terrible conditions in state
hospitals and to the discovery of antipsychotics, many well-intended people
wanted to improve the condition of mentally ill people by giving them
independence and better living conditions through outpatient treatment. So the
founders of NIMH, with the help of President Kennedy, began a federal program
intended to care for patients on an outpatient basis, as well as providing
resources which were intended on reducing the onset of mental illness in future
generations. Unfortunately, as the state hospitals closed en masse, these
federal programs didn't do their job as intended. The federal programs focused
too much on trying (and failing) to reduce the new onset of mental illness, and
not enough on taking care of people who were released from hospitals. Many
people from the hospitals had nowhere to go and/or stopped taking their meds
(for various reasons). The populations of homeless and jailed/imprisoned
mentally ill people skyrocketed. Violence by and against people with mental
illness skyrocketed. Chaos ensued. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Torrey provided
convincing background and evidence that the federal program has failed and that
the en masse emptying of state hospitals was a huge mistake. It did a fantastic
job of laying out the problems as they stand as well as some of the history as
to how we got to the failed mental healthcare system of today. However, he did
not provide adequate solutions to the problems presented. Even the chapter
whose title was dedicated to solutions was only a recap of the problems with
few real solutions presented. And those that were presented were not argued
in-depth. I'm still giving the book 4 stars, though, because it was interesting
and informative.</span></div>
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-9307390356944088222018-02-06T08:29:00.003-06:002018-02-06T08:29:52.417-06:00New Year, New Project<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hi all! Did you miss me? I know last year I was sketchy. I had so many big plans, and they all fell through. I went manic for the first 6 months of the year, and then had to pick up the pieces of my life for a while. Then, I found a wonderful man, and am now planning a wedding. Yay!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: large;">I have only one reading project this year, and because I now know that Real Life will always get in the way at SOME point, I will not recruit others, but make it a personal project which I can put down and take up at any time. Other than that, I just joined a book club which reads one non-fiction and one fiction book per month. </span></div>
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-74553359158774760512017-02-27T08:04:00.002-06:002017-02-27T08:04:40.924-06:00New Month, New Plan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ok, I totally dropped the ball on The Unwinding. I know I did. And I'm way behind on my Bible reading. But, as you know from my last post, I have my excuses. Real life does get in the way sometimes. I wasn't entirely honest in my last post when I said everything was going normally besides my dad's surgery. I also broke up with my boyfriend during that time. We just got tired of arguing about politics, and we realized we'd never been in love...so what's the point? And thus ends that era in my life. I've started online dating and met some interesting people. Interesting. Indeed. And then when I thought everything was settled down to start reading again, well, I was intimidated by being behind on my own goals. So here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to say thank you to everyone who participated in The Unwinding discussion, and I'm sorry I dropped the ball. But I'm going to start over with Strangers in Their Own Land, and now that I'm not behind on the reading, I'm positive I can get this blogging ball rolling again. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm currently reading Dark Matter (for my real life book club), Strangers in Their Own Land (I'll make an intro post for that soon), and the Bible. I'm listening to Kindred. </span></div>
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-1747352671782363342017-02-02T11:20:00.002-06:002017-02-02T11:34:03.871-06:00I'm Back! You were worried, weren't you?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hey all! Sorry I disappeared from my blog for a while. My dad was having carotid-subclavian bypass surgery and I was helping him out. He's doing great now, so it's back to the grind. Unfortunately I totally missed all discussion of Exodus - which I haven't even started yet. I'll read that at the same time as starting Leviticus, though, so that I stay on schedule. Just need to put a fire under my butt and catch up. I'm supposed to post my questions for The Unwinding Part II on Monday the 6th, I MIGHT be able to get that far by then, but no promises. I might be a couple of days late. But I'll catch up! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Otherwise, there's not really much to say about the past couple of weeks of absence. I was mostly focusing on dad. I'll also try to catch up on blog comments and visit people's blogs soon, but I'm way behind in life, so give me some time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Currently Reading: Because I'm behind, I've narrowed down my currently reading list to The Bible, The Unwinding (nonfiction for my group read), Kindred (audiobook), and Dark Matter (fiction for my real life book club). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh! And I almost forgot to mention that I hope to attend the March for Science in DC on April 22nd. I wish I had the skill to knit this cap. Anyone know how to knit who wants to do one for me? :) </span><br />
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-61741798335635482212017-01-23T04:00:00.000-06:002017-01-23T04:00:20.274-06:00The Unwinding Part 1 Discussion Post<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Unwinding is the first book for my discussion of<a href="http://hibernatorslibrary.blogspot.com/2016/11/new-york-times-6-books-to-help.html"> 6 books to explain Trump's win</a>, and this is the first of three discussion posts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Question 1:</b> This story was separated into biographies of several people which presumably will teach us why the populism movement has become popular in America. Whose story was most moving / interesting to you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tammy Thomas's story was most moving to me because it reminded me of a book I read for my social justice book club: Men We Reaped, by Jesmyn Ward. I had been wondering if Ward's experience with the deaths of blacks in the poorer class black community were unique. The implication was that it was not, but I'm a skeptic sometimes. Indeed, although there were fewer deaths involved in Thomas's story, it confirmed that deaths are a more common experience than I expected in this community. That, to me, is tragic. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The most interesting story was Oprah's. I guess I was never a fan of the Oprah Book Club because many selections are about miserable people being miserable, as Morphy would say. (Don't get me wrong, there are a few good ones in there.) However, this section was the only section where I could totally see Packer's point - that the pipe dreams encouraged by Oprah could bring people down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Question 2:</b> What do you think his thesis is? Was it made clear in this section. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have to admit that I don't know what his point is with any of the stories except the Tammy Thomas's, the Walmart one, and the Oprah one - that there are reasons (other than the obvious ones) that poorer people who are brought down by these circumstances. But I guess that's because I already expected this theme. In Jeff Connaughton's story I THINK the point is that lobbyists encourage corruption in Washington. The others, maybe that these successful people increase the poor / rich financial divide. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Question 3:</b> What do you think of the format of the book, where it is split into biographies instead of a straightforward narrative?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Personally, I'm skeptical that I will be able to see a strong thesis, though the reviews certainly imply that I am wrong. I would prefer a straightforward narrative because the people are hard to keep track of, though I think it's a very creative way to share a thesis (if that, indeed, is what happens in the end.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Question 4:</b> So far, a lot of the narrative about successful people. Does this surprise you? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I said in my answer to question 2, I expected stories about down-trodden people who want to make America great again</span>.</div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-28853804264328083922017-01-18T04:00:00.000-06:002017-01-18T04:00:35.245-06:00Jacob earns Rachel as his wife<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After Jacob steals Esau's blessing, he flees Esau to journey to the land of his maternal uncle Laban. At a well, Jacob sees and falls in love with Rachel, Laban's daughter. He asks Laban for Rachel as a wife, offering to work for Laban for seven years in order to earn Rachel. After the seven years are up, he has a wedding, and only discovers after the consummation that he had been tricked into marrying Leah, the older (and less attractive) sister of Rachel. Laban points out that Leah is the older, and should be married first, so Jacob offers to work for another seven years for Rachel. After his marriage to Rachel, Jacob fathers several sons by Leah, a couple by Leah's servant woman, and a copule by Rachel's servant woman. Finally Rachel bears Joseph (Jacob's favorite son) and Ben. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the meantime, Jacob makes a fortune in livestock by offering to work for Laban for several years, taking only the spotted and striped goats as payment. God was kind to Jacob and gave him many goats (however, Jacob did encourage the goats to give birth to spotted and striped by breeding them among sticks - I'm not sure how that works, but ok). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a while, Laban's sons became angry at Jacob for "stealing" their father's fortune and Jacob decides to flee Laban with his family and fortune. Rachel steals her father's household gods before the flight. Laban pursues Jacob, and searches for the household gods, but finds nothing because Rachel sits upon them and lies to Laban, saying she is bleeding. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Laban finally allows Jacob to leave, and he travels to his homeland. When he gets near, he fears that his brother Esau is still angry and will kill him. So he splits his group into two encampments, and sends many gifts ahead for Esau to receive before meeting with Jacob. Despite Jacob's fears, Esau embraces Jacob and welcomes him back home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why did Rachel steal the household gods? Did she worship them instead of Jacob's God? Or was she trying to anger her father? What does this show about how the ancient Hebrews viewed the worship of other gods? Did they accept that there were more gods than one, but that their God alone should be worshiped by themselves?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why was Esau so willing to welcome Jacob and forgive him? Was this a sign that Esau had changed into a more honorable man? Or was he just pleased by the gifts provided by Jacob? It seems that the first is the more reasonable option since Esau tells Jacob to keep his gifts, for he himself had more than enough. </span></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-74812012472545678332017-01-17T04:00:00.000-06:002017-01-17T04:00:15.473-06:00The story of Jacob and Esau<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After God's test of Abraham in the sacrifice of Isaac, Sarah dies, Isaac marries Rebekah, and Abraham dies. Following these events comes the story of Jacob and Esau. The story almost ignores Isaac's life as an adult, and skips on to his sons Jacob and Esau. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jacob and Esau were twins born to Rebekah. Esau was the first twin to emerge, and therefore the rightful heir to Isaac. But Jacob was born holding the heel of Esau, which has become a symbol of the stealing of a birthright. Later, Jacob actually steals Esau's birthright as well as Esau's blessing from Isaac. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jacob was a mamma's boy. He lived in the tents. What he did there is a mystery that is not explained in the Bible, other than that he was a quiet man. Esau, on the other hand, was a hunter. Isaac preferred Esau, because Isaac liked himself some game. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">At one point in the story, Esau returns from hunting famished, to find Jacob cooking a stew. Esau asks for some of the stew (which seems fair, but maybe this is meant to portray that Esau wasn't successful in his hunting whereas Jacob was successfully providing food for the family). Jacob refuses to give any stew to Esau unless Esau gives up his birthright. Esau is very hungry and readily gives up his birthright. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then Isaac wants to give Esau his blessing as the firstborn and favorite of the twins. He asks Esau to bring some game and prepare it the way Isaac likes. Rebekah, who favors Jacob, encourages him to take advantage of his father's blindness and feebleness and to steal the blessing. She tells him to bring her a goat and she would prepare them as Isaac likes. Then she gave Jacob Esau's clothes (that smelled like Esau) and put fur on Jacob's hands so that he felt hairy like Esau. Jacob lied more than once to Isaac, who recognized Jacob's voice but was fooled by the food, the smell, and the fur. He thus blessed Jacob. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When Esau returned from hunting and discovered Jacob's deception, he threatened to kill Jacob. So, with the encouragement of God, who told Jacob where to flee to, Jacob ran away from Esau. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jacob was a mamma's boy and lived in tents. I wonder what the ancient Hebrews thought of men who lived in tents and did not have an occupation. Were the Hebrews approving of mamma's boys? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What are we supposed to think of Esau selling his birthright? Of course, it seems that Esau didn't appreciate the gift given to him by God - being the firstborn. He treasured corporal things such as food. But on the other hand, what are we supposed to think of Jacob manipulating Esau into giving up his the birthright? It didn't seem honest or fair. I'm not a fan of the behavior of either of the brothers. This story is yet another example of the imperfections of people in the Bible. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another character flaw that comes up in the Bible is that Jacob and Rebekah are so willing to take advantage of Isaac's feebleness and to steal Esau's blessing. Jacob isn't even the one who prepares the goats for Isaac. He lets his mother do the hard work. He outwardly lies to his father. Then he appears cowardly when he runs from Esau instead of facing the consequences of his actions. </span></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-72663603429733442412017-01-16T04:00:00.000-06:002017-01-16T04:00:27.253-06:00Abraham's offering of Isaac<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally, God gave Sarah the promised son, Isaac. Due to her love of Isaac and her jealousy of Hagar and Ishmael she expelled the two. Abraham was loathe to abandon Ishmael to the elements, but God promised to take care of Ishmael, and that he would be the father of of a nation, so Abraham trusted God and did what he was told. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But God wasn't done testing Abraham. He asked Abraham to bring Isaac up the mountain and sacrifice him. Abraham did so, but just as he was about to kill Isaac, an angel called called to him from heaven, telling him not to sacrifice Isaac, but to sacrifice a lamb that was caught in the brambles. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is another example of why I wonder if God was considered omnipotent by the writers of the Pentateuch. I wonder why God did so much testing of Abraham if God knew that Abraham would pass. It seems cruel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was disappointed in the Abraham's personality again when he lied to Isaac about the sacrifice: "And Isaac said to his father Abraham, 'My father!' And he said, 'Here am I, my son.' He said, 'Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?' Abraham said, 'God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.'" (Genesis 22:7-8 ESV) Wouldn't it have been better for Abraham to give Isaac the chance to volunteer for the mission? God did not order Abraham to lie to his child. </span></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-70301963567678453742017-01-15T04:00:00.000-06:002017-01-15T04:00:06.421-06:00The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In Chapter 18 of Genesis two angels and God appeared at Abraham's tent. Abraham saw them and thought they were three men, so he rushed to extend his hospitality to the guests. Hospitality was of very high importance to Abraham's culture, and he did everything right. He set Sarah to work kneading flour, prepared a calf, and provided curds and milk. After this, the angels and the LORD revealed themselves to Abraham and told him that Sarah would bear a child. Sarah, who was eavesdropping, laughed at this, and the LORD scolded her. Sarah, afraid, denied laughing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After this, the LORD forewarned Abraham that he was going to destroy the city of Sodom. This was a turning point in the narrative - God had never before used Abraham as a confidant, and Abraham jumped right on top of his new level of relationship by questioning "Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?" (Genesis 18:24 ESV). When the LORD said that he would not sweep away the city for the sake of the fifty, Abraham questioned about forty-five, forty, thirty, twenty, and ten. Each time the LORD answered that he would save the city for the sake of those righteous people. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then, the two angels went down to Sodom. Lot saw them, and thinking they were men, invited them to his home, and provided a feast. But the evil men of Sodom surrounded Lot's house and demanded the guests be sent out so the men could sodomize them. Lot stepped out into danger himself and refused to send out the guests, instead offering his virgin daughters as an exchange. When the evil men of the city threatened to worse-than-sodomize Lot, the angels intervened and struck blind the men at the gate. They told Lot to take his entire family, including his daughters' grooms, and leave the city for it was about to be destroyed. But Lot's sons-in-law thought he was joking and didn't heed the warning. The angels insisted, and finally Lot left the city with only his daughters and wife. They were told not to look back, and because Lot's wife looked back, she was turned to a pillar of salt. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lot was living in a cave alone with his daughters, who were concerned that there were no longer men to marry. They worried that Lot's line would thus end. So they got Lot drunk and raped him while he was passed out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is an early example of the thriller/suspense genre. The reader hears that these cities will be destroyed, and wonders (along with Abraham) whether God will destroy the righteous with the evil. And how will God respond at being questioned so closely by Abraham? Did Abraham overstep his relationship with God? It seems not, because God answered Abraham patiently and kept his promise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The suspense heightens throughout the story, with each incident showing how evil the men of Sodom were and how righteous Lot was. That is, assuming that when the story was written readers would interpret Lot's offer of his virgin daughters instead of his guests as the height of hospitality (and therefore worthy of God's smiles). Of course, to me, sending out innocent girls doesn't seem a good solution at all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The action peaks when Lot's wife is turned to a pillar of salt because she looks back at the destruction of Sodom. This don't-look-back plot point is similar to the older story of Orpheus, who went on a quest into Hades to rescue his deceased (and dearly loved) wife Eurydice. He was told not to look back when leaving Hades, but couldn't resist looking back to see the face of Eurydice, who then disappeared back into Hades. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The end of the story is a bit puzzling. Why, after Lot had been so righteous throughout the story, was he rewarded by being raped by his daughters? Surely this incest was just as disgusting to the readers of the time as it would be to us? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The notes in The Literary Study Bible have a different interpretation of Lot's righteousness than I do. It points out that despite the New Testament commentary on Lot as a righteous man (2 Peter 2:6-8), Lot was closely tied to the evil city of Sodom. This close tie was shown by his reluctance to leave the city, even when the angels said that it would be destroyed. They had to drag him out of the city by his hand, in fact. The commentary ends by saying "it is easier to get the family out of Sodom than it is to get Sodom out of the family." </span></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-6932867163958680642017-01-14T04:00:00.000-06:002017-01-14T04:00:30.565-06:00The woes of spraying<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This has been an uneventful week for me. Things are going well at work, though I'm working a little too hard these days and have decided I don't have enough time for all the books I'm reading. Sadly, I've had to cut out a few of the books in my currently reading list, so that I can finish SOMETHING this month. Also my male cat, Puck, whom I have not had money to fix yet, has started spraying. Yuck. It has not been going on long and I'm hoping the behavior will stop once he's neutered. The internet says that he'll probably spray for a little while after being fixed, but if the behavior has not been going on long there's a good chance he'll stop. This is exactly why I didn't want a male cat at all, but, alas, when I had the chance at two free kittens one of them was male. And the vets convinced me to fix the female first. Shouldn't have listened. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have not been exercising as I've had a busy work schedule (16 hour days), and I'm being a bit lazy. Hopefully I can get back to training next week, or the week after. But I've been doing a good job of eating healthier and less. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also, I've decided to go off the Abilify altogether because of the huge price-hike. I just upped the dose of my Lamictal and hope that is enough to keep me stable. I am very aware of the tells of going manic or depressed, so hopefully if I start to destabilize I will notice right away and do something about it. The problem of going manic is that it's fun and I get lots of things done. People with bipolar disorder tend not to want to keep up their meds when they start to go manic. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Currently Reading:</b> I cut out the Paradise Lost. I just don't have time to keep up with a group read right now. I may read PL next year. We'll see. I decided to set aside Evicted, Swann's Way, and The Stand until I finish what I'm currently reading/listening to. I've also decided that after Wizard of Oz, I will stop reading the Baum series this year, and not read one a month. There are other books I'd like to read for the Pop Sugar and Back to the Classics challenges and a little variety in my reading will help me enjoy the year better. I got behind on the Harry Potter because I was toying with the idea of quitting it, too. But I decided I need a little fun in my life. </span></div>
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-52181936128385188492017-01-13T07:47:00.003-06:002017-01-13T07:47:46.178-06:00The Unwinding Discussion Google Doc<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I am leading a discussion of <a href="http://hibernatorslibrary.blogspot.com/2016/11/new-york-times-6-books-to-help.html">6 Books to Help Understand Trump's Win</a>. This is a discussion of the first book: The Unwinding by George Packer. Anybody may participate in this discussion. I have made a Google Doc for the ease of discussion. <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ns_LJTjN3ijK_h7s1l713bvIyEjDDhOef-c00we3HWY/edit?usp=sharing">The Google Doc is here.</a></span></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-26988875475032722612017-01-13T04:00:00.000-06:002017-01-13T04:00:19.132-06:00How to Read the Bible Chapter 6, by James Kugel<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chapter 6 of Kugel's How to Read the Bible covers the call of Abram to leave the land of Canan (Genesis 12 - 15). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Abram (or Abraham) is thought of as the first monotheist, but where did this legend come from? It is not explicitly stated in the story of Abram that he is monotheistic (though allusions to it are included in the New Testament and supporting documents written later in the Hebrew history). This belief that Abram was a monotheist comes originally from early scholars who believed that Abram must have done <i>something</i> to deserve being singled out by God and given great nations of descendants. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Philo suggested that the people of the land of Chaldea, whence Abram was said to have traveled, were astronomers. They had calculated the movements of the sun and stars very well, and worshiped the sun and stars as Gods. Therefore, when God said to "Leave Chaldea!" he was telling Abram to believe in only one God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Josephus, had a similar theory about the astronomy of Chaldea. The Chaldeans had calculated the number of days in a year to be 354.25. But what kind of number is 354.25? Wouldn't a god have chosen a nice round number? This inconsistency with god's order suggested that the sun was not a god. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Early scholars probably believed Abram was a historical figure, but later scholars (modern scholars before the 1900s) tended to believe that he was metaphorical. However, starting in 1933 archaeologists discovered a huge library of clay tablets in the ancient city of Mari. These mentioned many of the cities that were described in Abram's narrative. Some of these documents date back to the time when Abram probably would have lived if he lived. After this, biblical archaeology was explored with fervency. </span></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-11590193080911923532017-01-12T04:00:00.000-06:002017-01-12T04:00:01.465-06:00Abram becomes Abraham<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Abram's story continues with a vision from the LORD. Abram complained to the LORD that despite His promise when Abram left Chaldea, God had given Abram no offspring. So God renewed his promise that Abram would have numbers of descendants to rival the stars. But Abram was still not satisfied. He asked: "O LORD GOD, how am I to know that I shall possess it?" (Genesis 15:8 ESV). God requested a sacrifice, which Abram provided. Thus a covenant was formed. But the LORD said "Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgement on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions." (Genesis 15:13-14 ESV). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Because Sarai had given Abram no children, she told him to sleep with her servant. When the servant, Hagar, became pregnant with Ishmael, Hagar scorned Sarai for being barren, and Sarai became so angry that Hagar ran away. But the LORD found Hagar and told her to return to Sarai, and that her descendants would be innumerable. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Time passed until the LORD again reminded Abram of the covenant. The LORD said "No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations." (Genesis 17:5 ESV). God told Abraham that for him to keep the covenant he must circumcise himself and his entire household, including family, servants, and slaves. God also changed the name of Abraham's wife from Sarai to Sarah. God promised to bless Sarah and make her the mother of nations. But Abraham laughed at this proposal. Weren't he and Sarah too old to bear children? Couldn't God bless Ishmael? But God told Abraham that Sarah would bear a son, and that he should be named Isaac. But that Ishmael, too, would be the father of kings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So Abraham circumcised himself and his entire household. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This story shows the patience of God despite the ongoing doubt of Abraham - a doubt which foreshadowed those of Abraham's many descendants during the Exodus from Egypt - a doubt which seemed to encourage God to punish Abraham's ancestors by bonding them into slavery for centuries. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But why was God so patient with Abraham. What was so special about him? And why the name changes? What did these changes signify? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In addition to further developing the characters of God and Abram/Abraham, this story also developed the character of Sarai. Before this, she was only mentioned as a passive character, but here she was shown to love her husband so much that she wanted him to bear a child, even from someone else. But when that someone else, a servant, scorned her, Sarai was no longer placid and giving. She became bitter and angry. This character development foreshadows further angst later in the narrative. </span></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-84549978161794011392017-01-11T04:00:00.000-06:002017-01-11T04:00:06.573-06:00The call of Abram<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Genesis 12 describes God's call to Abram to leave his home and family in the land of Chaldea and travel forth to the land which God appoints for him. God promises "And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse," (Genesis 12:2-3 ESV). So Abram, his wife Sarai, and his nephew Lot all traveled forth to the land of Canan, where they settled. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But a famine drove them to Egypt. There, Abram was afraid that he'd be murdered because his wife Sarai was so beautiful, so he told her to call him her brother. Pharaoh took Sarai into his harem, and Abram became rich because of his "sister." But soon, a curse fell upon Pharaoh, who discovered that Sarai was Abram's wife not his sister. He was angry at the deception, but sent Abram and Sarai safely on their way. Presumably for fear of Abram's god. This lie is how Abram made his fortune. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Later, Abram and Lot separate, both to build their families in peace. Lot went to live in Sodom. But there was war going on between rivaling cities, and Lot was taken prisoner by Sodom's enemy. Abram built and army and saved his nephew. The king of Sodom then praised Abram and told Abram to take the goods that he had rescued, but Abram refused, saying he didn't want people to say that he had become rich because of the king of Sodom. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">These chapters (Genesis 12 - 14) introduce a hero, Abram, who becomes a lasting part of the biblical narrative henceforth. Abram is considered righteous - why else would God have chosen him - but he also has his flaws. Instead of telling the truth and hoping for the best, Abram lies about Sarai in Egypt. Despite Sarai's probable mortification of being part of Pharaoh's harem (did she deserve this fate?), Abram profited greatly off the situation, and then happily left with his wife and his fortune when he was found out. He could be said to have been made rich by Pharoah, but then later he refuses to be made rich by the king of Sodom. Why is this? Does he have more respect for the king of Sodom (a city later destroyed by God because of its wickedness?) than he did for Pharaoh? Or did he simply want to be more careful when he was so close to home? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I also wonder about Abram's lack of faith in God during his time in Egypt. Why didn't he trust that God would keep him and Sarai safe? Why, instead, did he put Sarai in harm's way? And why did God save Abram despite his lack of faith? What had Abram done that was so respectable in God's eyes?</span> </div>
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-53538430383532699482017-01-10T04:00:00.000-06:002017-01-10T06:30:22.027-06:00The Tower of Babel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Until this year, I wasn't very familiar with the Tower of Babel. I'd heard of it, of course, but never thought about it. The story is one paragraph in Chapter 11 of Genesis. The people, who were united and had only one language, said "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth." (Genesis 11: 3 ESV) And God came down to see the tower and was displeased because "Nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them." (Genesis 11:6 ESV) So God confused the language of the people so that there were many languages. The people could no longer understand each other, so they dispersed across the earth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why is this short story included in the Bible between the story of Noah and the story of Abram? I suppose if you look at Genesis as a history of the people, this story was necessary to show how people dispersed around the world and developed different languages. It introduced the fact that there were now many peoples, and that Abram would have to navigate through some of those peoples in his migration later in the biblical narrative. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking at the story more minutely, though, why was God displeased by the city and tower? Is it because humans aspired to become like God? Was he teaching them a lesson in humility? That's what many scholars think of this story. But that makes little sense to me because of verse 6. If everything humans aspire to is now possible to them, then that implies that it is possible to be like God. It implies that God felt threatened. This is not our modern conception of God, certainly. Was it the ancient perception of God? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ryken and Ryken point out in The Literary Study Bible that the story is satirical. The people are trying to build a tower that reaches the heavens, and yet God has to "come down" from the heavens to look at it. Also, they were building with bitumen and asphalt instead of mortar. But, again, if their attempt was in vain, then why did God say that everything they aspire to will be possible to them? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ryken and Ryken also point out that this story is typical of human nature. We strive to develop technology that will make us more comfortable and more powerful - in essence, we strive to be like gods over our planet. </span></div>
<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-78949661613985602532017-01-09T04:00:00.000-06:002017-01-09T06:01:23.183-06:00In the Woods, by Tana French<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Years ago, three children disappeared into the woods near the small town of Knocknaree - only one was found. He was covered in blood and remembered nothing of what happened. Years later, that little boy is a grown man and is a detective with the Dublin Murder Squad. When a new child murder case pops up in Knocknaree, detective Ryan struggles to remember what happened to him all those years ago. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This book is really hard for me to review because in some ways it was very, very satisfying, and in some ways it was dissatisfying. But the dissatisfying aspects were where realism meets mystery / police procedural. I guess the element of realism, and the fantastic writing, are why people consider this a piece of "literary fiction" (whatever that means). I can say that some of the twists were predictable to me, but I was still very interested in how the story was going to turn out. I can't say more without spoilers, so I'll leave it at that. </span><br />
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-37902181434005493632017-01-08T04:00:00.000-06:002017-01-08T07:37:42.982-06:00North and South, by Elizabeth Gaskell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Margaret is living the high life in London with her cousin and aunt, but when her cousin gets married, Margaret goes back to her humble, but peaceful life with her parents at a parsonage in Helstone. But all this changes when her father unexpectedly decides that he no longer agrees with his church, and will leave the religious calling to be a tutor in the Northern factory city of Milton. There, the family lives in relative poverty, but earns the friendship of Mr. Thornton. He is a self-made man, who worked his way up from curtain sales to merchant, and he would like to educate himself in the classics under the tutelage of Margaret's father Mr. Hale. But Margaret is proud and thinks gentlemen and ladies should be considered higher than merchants. Although she appreciates the friendship that Mr. Thornton offers her lonely father, she looks down upon the merchant class and Milton in general. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Margaret is in for an education, though. She soon becomes enmeshed in the union politics. She kindly bestows her friendship upon a poor factory worker's family, and hears both sides of the union politics - the side of the factory workers as well as Mr. Thornton's side. Much of this tome is dedicated to discussions on this subject, thus educating the reader on the subject. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And of course, let's not forget the romance. After a time, Mr. Thornton begins to admire Margaret, despite her lack of fortune. However, Margaret does not admire (or believes she does not) admire Mr. Thornton because of his lowly merchant class. There is a lot of romantic tension throughout the story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have to say, although I love Jane Austen's satires and I think she's probably the better student of human nature, Elizabeth Gaskell is by far the better student of societal issues. In fact, I'd say Gaskell is a fascinating mixture of Austen's romance and Dickens' social commentary. Throughout my reading, I learned a lot about why unions were developed and what good (and bad) they did the factory workers. I also learned about class structure between the merchant and the gentry. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gaskell described the poor working conditions and low pay that the factory workers suffered. But she also showed the reader how a strike, in those early days of unions, could make the poor laborers lose money and suffer consequences when scab workers are called in. They can, in fact, be ruined themselves. On the other hand, Mr. Thornton carefully explains why he's making the choices he's making in response to the union strike, and you can't help but feel his pain as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Overall, an excellent novel, and I look forward to reading more Gaskell in the future. </span><br />
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-9379056303854692792017-01-07T08:03:00.001-06:002017-01-07T08:03:45.537-06:00#hpchapteraday Sorcerer's Stone Chapter 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is part of an 11-month group project to read a chapter a day of Harry Potter and comment on a theme. <b>These posts will contain spoilers. </b>Today's theme is "generosity."</span></div>
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In chapter 4 of Sorcerer's Stone, The Dursleys and Harry are ensconced in a rickety old house on an island, protected by a raging storm. As Harry counts down the minutes to his birthday, a giant (Hagrid) breaks down the door. Hagrid makes a fire and gives a cake and sausages to Harry. He explains about Hogwarts, magic, Voldemort, and Harry's parents. Then he pretty much kidnaps Harry (much to Harry's delight). </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are several characters either actively working or passively working in this chapter: Hagrid, Harry, the Durleys, Harry's parents, and Voldemort. As we all know, Voldemort epitomizes all that is antonym to "generosity." And as far as Dudley is concerned, only the second definition applies to him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The obvious examples of the first definition of generosity in this chapter is Hagrid's generosity to Harry. And Harry's parents' generosity to the world. Hagrid fed Harry, he patiently explained what was going on, and he gave Harry his coat to keep him warm. Best of all, he remembered Harry's birthday. Harry's parents gave their lives to help defeat evil. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A less obvious example of generosity is the Dursleys. They are, at some level, generous to raise Harry despite their obvious distaste to do so. They don't spend much, but they do spend time and money on him. They risk everyone learning that they are not "normal" by raising a child that is anything but normal. Both Voldemort and the Dursleys can be considered "bad sorts of people." But notice that the Dursleys aren't as evil as Voldemort. They have some good in them. And part of that good is shown in their willingness to raise Harry despite every inclination not to do so. </span></div>
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1951570178065446020.post-9531927693325758612017-01-07T04:00:00.000-06:002017-01-07T06:44:59.243-06:00Ramping up for New Year<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, the new year has begun quite well for me on the reading front. As you can see below I'm reading a lot of books. </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This new reading mania is mostly due to the new year and new goals which I haven't whittled down to a reasonable level yet. But part of it may actually be the start of hypomania. I dropped my Abilify cold turkey a week ago because my new insurance was going to charge me $240 per month for it. Isn't that ridiculous? I feel like taking a moment to rant about the broken system in which people have to pay so much money for insurance, and then so much money for medical care. The system is so broken. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If only my newly found hypomania extended to either cleaning my house (being more organized is a goal of this year) or exercising. But alas. Just to reading. I have been doing a moderate job of cleaning out my closets and making a huge pile for Goodwill this week, but of course that only makes my rooms look more messy! And exercising - nada. But there's always tomorrow, right? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Books completed this week: In the Woods, by Tana French. Just in time for my RL book club on Sunday. And my first Serial Reader book, North and South, by Elizabeth Gaskell. Reviews coming up on Sunday and Monday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm currently reading this unwieldy compilation of books which will probably be whittled down to a more reasonable number of books soon: Wizard of Oz (<a href="http://lonestaronalark.com/2016/12/sign-up-for-the-wizard-of-oz-read-along/">read-a-long</a>), Paradise Lost (<a href="https://risathenextchapter.blogspot.com/2016/11/paradise-lost-and-lord-of-rings-two.html">read-a-long</a>), Bible (<a href="http://hibernatorslibrary.blogspot.com/2017/01/reading-bible-as-literature-introduction.html">read-a-long</a>), Harry Potter (#hpchapteraday), The Stand (been working on this one for a while, it's long), The Winter's Tale (Serial Reader book for "A book with one of the four seasons in the title" category of Pop Sugar Challenge and "Romance" category of <a href="https://karensbooksandchocolate.blogspot.com/2016/12/back-to-classics-2017.html">Back to the Classics 2017</a>), The Unwinding (<a href="http://hibernatorslibrary.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-unwinding-intro-post.html">read-a-long</a>), Evicted (group read on LibraryThing), Kindred (group read on LibraryThing), Swann's Way (group read on LibraryThing). As it is, I don't expect to finish any of them during the following week. :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And I acquired a graphic novel of Pride and Prejudice (this was actually an accidental purchase, but I'm still happy with it); Listen, Liberal by Thomas Frank; The Populist Explosion, by John B Judis; Strangers in Their Own Land, by Arlie Russell Hochschild (all three for the <a href="http://hibernatorslibrary.blogspot.com/2016/11/new-york-times-6-books-to-help.html">understanding Trump's win read-a-long</a>); and Ben in the World, by Doris Lessing (the sequel to The Fifth Child, which I read in November). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Post-publication PS: I guess I should really start answering my blog comments daily. I'm used to waiting a week because I'd get like 2-3 comments per week. But Now I've got around 20 unanswered comments! Sorry everyone! I do love your comments!</span></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14629744053780948715noreply@blogger.com3