We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget. We forget the loves and the betrayals alike, forget what we whispered and what we screamed, forget who we were. 

~Joan Didion, "On Keeping a Notebook", Slouching Towards Bethlehem.

Tonio Kröger von Thomas Mann

Deutsche Literatur macht mir Spass, denn die Worten mancher Autoren mir erfüllt. Einer von diesen Autoren ist Thomas Mann. Dieses Semester habe ich Tonio Kröger gelesen, eine Erzählung, die Thomas Manns Leben gleicht. Tonio Kröger hat einen gemischten Herkunft. Seine Mutter kommt aus Italien und sein Vater ist Deutscher. Darin erteilte er seine Erfährungen als Künstler, besonders wie er kein Bürger ist. Die Geschichte handelt von Liebe und Verlässung, Themen für die ich mich interessiere. Um Manns Schreiben zu erfahren empfehle ich Ihnen die zwei Teile unten. Die zeigt, wie wir manchmal auf dieser Welt nicht immer zu Hause sind. Diese Gefühl steht noch tiefer an den Herzen der Leute, die mit ihren Heimaten nicht frei umgehen können.

http://nemet.ektf.hu/

Er genoss ein tiefes Vergessen, ein erlöstes Schweben über Raum und Zeit, und nur zuweilen war es, als würde sein Herz von einem Weh durchzuckt, einem kurzen, stechenden Gefühl von Sehnsucht oder Reue, das nach Namen und Herkunft zu fragen er zu träge und versunken war (71).

Ich stehe zwischen zwei Welten, bin in keiner daheim und habe es infolgedessen ein wenig schwer (86).

Book of Matthew reloaded

I recently read the Gospel of Matthew in the Message version. It's an awesome translation, and I just want to share some of the amazing words that I highlighted, underlined, and reflected upon. Hope you will do the same as you read them, and also grab yourself a copy of the Message Bible if you can!

chapter 4: 
It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.

chapter 5: 
You’re blessed when you feel that you’ve lost what’s most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves.

In a word, what I’m saying is Grow Up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God created identity. Live generously and graciously towards others, the way God lives toward you.

chapter 6:
Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. yep, usikawai panic!

chapter 7:
Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them.

chapter 8:
Your cleansed and grateful life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done.

chapter 10:
Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands.

If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me.

chapter 11:
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you the real rest. Walk with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn how to live freely and lightly.

chapter 17:
Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am.

chapter 20:
No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.

chapter 26:
But please, not what I want. You, what do You want?

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

BOOK: Life of Pi
AUTHOR: Yann Martel
PUBLISHER: Cannongate
PAGES: 319 pages

After the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, one solitary lifeboat remains bobbing in the wild blue Pacific. The only survivors from the wreck are a sixteen-year-old boy named Pi, a hyena, a zebra (with a broken leg), a female orang-utan...and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger.

I bought this book in Heathrow Airport after failing to buy it twice in Washington, DC. My friend, Taha, had told me that it would be a very interesting read. He was right. I usually buy books based on the number of reviews on the back or front covers. Life of Pi had a gazillion. Plus, it won the Man Booker Prize. If you are book lover like me, then you know that a Booker prize winning book is a must read!

I wasn’t disappointed…except where I had to look online to investigate the interpretations of the book. Reviewers claim that the book will make you believe in God. I guess for peeps like me who have an unwavering faith in God, the book didn’t do much to make me re-believe. However, it did have some amazing quotes like:

Repetition is important in the training not only of animals but also of humans.

The presence of God is the finest of rewards.

Meanwhile, the lot of widows and homeless children is very hard, and it is to their defence, not God's, that the self-righteous should rush.

It's important in life to conclude things properly. Only then can you let go. Otherwise you are left with words you should have said but never did, and your heart is heavy with remorse.

 If you are mildly philosophical, you should read this book. If you like reading extensively, you should also read it. Check out the Book of the Month link to find out more about this book. Enjoy!