Epic by Conor Kostick

As a self proclaimed player of MMORPGs (Massively multiplayer online role-playing games), I was understandably interested in the premise of this book. It is another one of the post apocalyptic books that are so popular right now, except the twist here is that the new government is based on a computer game. It is a nonviolent world where violence is punished by exile. Instead of warfare or fighting, all disputes are supposed to be worked out within the medium of the game, thereby preventing actual violence.

The writing itself was definitely enjoyable. Although Kostick’s writing is not take-your-breath-away good, it’s certainly not bad. I really enjoyed the “game” aspect of the book. The author was very proficient at keeping the reader firmly set in realty, while allowing them to satisfy their imaginative cravings created by the game. I got my fill of warlocks, druids, and vampires without feeling like I was a complete nerd. (Just sort of a nerd.)

What I really loved about this book was the message that Kostick presents through the plot. I don’t want to give any details away, but ultimately the characters are frustrated that so much time and effort is spent in an imaginary world. The average person gets their money through the game performing tasks that are completely fruitless in the real world. Political disputes are handled within the game, in which the officials are ultimately powerful. Consequently, the average person does not have sufficient resources for their needs in the actual, physical world.

At first, I just thought it was an entertaining story. The more I thought about it, however, the more I wondered if the author was trying to make a statement about our governments today. I mean, when you think it, isn’t our political system just one big game? So much of a politician’s time is concentrated on accomplishing personal agendas, getting reelected, and strengthening their positions of power that their actual responsibility of representing the people is lost by the wayside. Do the people have any real chance of getting their needs and opinions heard? Think about our monetary system! Our currency consists of numbers on a screen representing wealth that doesn’t actually exist! I consider all of the resources spent on campaigns and it makes me absolutely sick! What if the resources spent on campaigns, political networking, and lobbying was spent in a constructive way instead of being dumped into the bottomless pit that is the game of politics. How much better would our world be? I’m not saying that all of politics are corrupt. I recognize that there are some very good people in government. Nor am I saying that our system of government is bad. The system set up in the constitution is good; it is the game of politics that is repulsive.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

I cannot say enough good things about this book. It is absolutely exquisite! This was my second time through it, and I was surprised to find myself even more captivated by the magic weaved by Yann Martel than the first time I read it.

First off, the plot itself is fascinating and extremely unique. There is nothing else to say beyond that. It’s simply a wonderful story.

Secondly, Yann Martel is a magnificent writer. With every turn of the page I found myself stopping at some especially beautiful metaphor or a particularly interesting sentence to savor the way in which Martel turns the words into art. Take this passage, for instance: “There were many seas. The sea roared like a tiger. The sea whispered in your ear like a friend telling you secrets. The sea clinked like small change in a pocket. The sea thundered like avalanches. The sea hissed like sandpaper working on wood. The sea sounded like someone vomiting. The sea was dead silent.” Is it just me, or does this passage make your heart skip a beat as well?

Lastly, this book was thought provoking, which is the most important attribute that a book can have. It made me ponder survival and the overwhelming desire of living things to live, despite any misery that comes. It caused me to realize that nothing in life is objective. Each event that occurs in life is seen differently by each of its participants because each person has a different past that taints their view. Because of the individual, experience-tinted glasses through which each of us see the world, everyone sees a different story. Most importantly, it helped me to draw closer to God. It reminded me how it feels to have a personal relationship with deity and reminded me that doctrine is not the most important thing. What really matters is having the Spirit of God constantly in your life.

Favorite Quotes:

"The lower you are, the higher your mind will want ot soar."

"To chose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation."

"The reason death sticks so closely to life isn't biological necessity - it's envy. Life is so beautiful that death has fallen in love with it, a jealous possessive love that grabs at what it can."

"Bapu Gandhi said, 'All religions are true.' I just want to love God,"

"Hindus, in their capacity for love, are indeed hairless Christians, just as Muslims, in the way they see God in everything, are bearded Hindus, and Christians, in their devotion to God, are hat-wearing Muslims."