Books this week:
Machiavelli: A Portrait by Christopher Celenza
For all you history buffs out there, this is a great read. Specifically for any who take interest in Florence and the Italian society during the days of independent city-states.
Pros: Celenza does a great job of stating the facts clearly, giving excellent background information that helps in our understanding of Machiavelli's own writings, and summarizing the works of Machiavelli for those of us who have not yet picked up his works. Furthermore, if you read this book you will learn about much more than a mere individual. Rather, you will learn about the historical development of a country, the universality of human nature, and the political problems facing society from premodern Florence to the modern world.
Cons: The one con I might add, which is not exactly a con in my opinion, is that this book is indeed a historical, nonfiction work. This means there will not be any talking vegetables or exploding vehicles to grab your attention. There are authors who seek to write a novel version of historical fact by taking a few liberties in their writing, usually by taking cues from diaries or letters that have been documented. Celenza does not write a novel here but rather a historical work that captures the Florentine society at its best... and its worst.
You and Me Forever by Francis and Lisa Chan
Having read only a handful of books on marriage and not having completed this one yet, this review is a bit incomplete. However, since it has comprised a notable amount of my reading time this week I would like to give my hearty recommendation that you pick this up and read it. The premise of this book, one quite countercultural, is that the goal of our marriage is not marriage itself. In other words, marriage is not an end, it is a means. Chan, and his wife (also Chan), argues Biblically that our marriage is God's gift to us for our preparation for eternity. As I am only about midway through this book I will leave off with the general description and hope that you readers will seek to discover the depth of truth and height of challenge that this book offers.
Pros: Chan and his wife are experts at writing realistically to an audience living in the "real world." That being said, Francis Chan is one of the most Biblically saturated authors that I have read on the subject of marriage. When push comes to shove, Chan is not interested in sharing mere personal insights and hand-me-down advice. The point of this book is shaping our view of marriage, and ultimately eternity, around the Bible. If you are interested in being radically challenged (even for those of you who are Christians) as well as delightfully instructed on the subject of marriage, this is certainly a book you do not want to pass you by.
Cons: There really are no cons I can give about this book (again, I am only midway through). I have not read a large amount of Chan's works, but I do come to this book with a high expectation of what I might continue to find. Chan's works do challenge the traditional mindset with Biblical, radical ideas that can (and very well should) be offensive.
Tunes of the week:
Mansions by NF
"Y'all look curious, Heath Ledger type of questions Like "Why so serious?" And you want watered down lyrics? Well, I don't carry 'em I dig holes for these tracks and then I slaughter and bury 'em The motivation I got is on a whole different level I treat these line like court case, I don't wanna settle My words are like bullets and they're aiming at you And I ain't talking Switchfoot when I dare you to move"
Read more at http://www.lyrics.com/motivated-lyrics-nf.html#6wS3Q7WUzVjpvim8.99"
Hip hop fans can rejoice- this album is definitely solid. Let me define what I mean by solid. Some reading this will look at me like "Why is this nerdy white guy listening to hip hop?" Truth be told, I grew up listening to southern rock, southern gospel, and country music (notice no hip or hop in any of that). However, that style of music never resonated with me- in fact, I have grown to rather dislike the sound of country music (at least a good portion of it). As I grew older and began developing my own thoughts and preferences in regard to dress, books, movies, and music I was introduced to hip hop from a close friend of mine. This hip hop was not your run-of-the-mill song overdosing on themes of rape or sex or drugs. The song was actually dripping with Scripture and profoundly describing the character of God. The artist was Shai Linne. From that point on I have radically adjusted my standards in music. Lyrical depth became the foundational element in the songs I sought out. I listen to secular as well as Christian music regularly but the artists I listen to all have something to say- something more than catchy repeats or corny love stories gone wrong. NF is no exception to this. Taking the opening track to introduce himself, NF goes on to make an analogy for the rest of the album: a mental mansion. NF lays out throughout this album, room by room in this case, the different thoughts he has been trapped with as he has battled some of life's toughest questions as a Christian. Abuse, family death, and personal failure all fill the halls of this mansion- perhaps you, like me, can relate. In addition to lyrical depth and profound creativity, the music itself is certainly high quality. This does not sound like some karaoke record that you picked up off the streets. NF's flow is fast and hard- matching perfectly the strong emotions he seeks to convey. Certainly worth the $8 for some solid, profound music.
Pros: The level of talent displayed by NF both in creative lyricism and passionate performance is amazing. There are few rappers that I have ever heard put out so much emotion and truth as NF has in this album. The words connect on so many levels- those facing hurt and loss, anger and abuse, fear and failure. It's hard to make a comparison to this album because, in my experience, it is quite unique.
Cons: For those who do not listen to hip hop/ rap in general the unique play on words and clever analogy made by NF may be lost in the speed with which he delivers it. Even with several rap albums in my library I discover new word plays and analogies as I listen to it now. The speed is not exactly a con as it serves to define the flow that NF uses, however, I suggest this because there are those who do not take much interest in this particular genre of music.
Chaos and the Calm by James Bay
As I mentioned in my previous review, I listen to both secular and Christian music on a regular basis. I tend to pride myself on an enjoyment of a wide variety of cultures which encompasses my choice in food, movies, and music. I love pop music in general (Coldplay to Dave Moisan) and also enjoy singers with an edge in their voice (Gavin Degraw) as well as lyrical story tellers (Ed Sheeran, Andrew Osenga, Birdy, etc..). Recently I have been wearing out this particular album on Spotify (sorry James I don't have the extra $10 just yet) due to its acoustic pop vibe and lyrical storytelling. Granted, the songs are mostly written around the theme of relationship difficulties and desires (as you might guess from the album title) but it carries with it more meaning than Bieber's "Baby" (which song doesn't?) You will find yourself humming or straight out bellowing the tunes of "Craving" or "Hold Back the River" throughout the day. I'm sure the customers at The Fresh Market have rather enjoyed my solos (kidding... somewhat). If you are a fan of acoustic music, catchy percussion flow, and soulful singing, James Bay delivers an excellent album that will likely be put on repeat.
Pros: Bay does a praiseworthy job of balancing acoustic ambience and vocal flare. The album delivers some lyrical depth while maintaining a light-hearted feel. Delving into the issues of relationship trouble or relationship aspirations has not been this stylistically performed by many of the artists I've listened to.
Cons: There aren't many cons that I can list here as the album is quite solid. Those looking for something high-octane will probably not like the acoustic vibe that James Bay takes. This is, however, a matter of preference rather than a weakness.