You know you're in for a treat when you are reading a book that is based on a post-apocalyptic world. Many might think this would be another Dystopian worthy book which made many readers now cringe every time some of this words mentioned. In this case, it's not.
This is what most post-apocalyptic book should be. It was written so well that you know you're in the same world with a total disability on the basics of life after a pandemic flu outbreak and destroy most of mankind. To begin with, some might think that the end of everything is due to war but this book has brought us to a whole new paradigm on how mankind can be destroyed with just a simple deadly virus.
It was written with care on how humans will be like during moments such as this. Some of your close ones are stuck in some random parts of the world (ehem, my home country was mentioned) and the rest of the world would just siren a stand down and you are being set apart just like that.
How it was written very much reminds me of the TV series "The Walking Dead" which creeps the crap out of me. One has to go through the agony of finding whether are there survivors out there after many days of hiding in the room. The fundamental of survivor-hood during times likes this is it crucial? Everything now has been so taken care of that these basic knowledge of starting a fire is so essential to mankind. Mind you, there is no more electricity and internet.
The world became so big once more where the main source of communication has been cut off! So much for Globalization. This book has been thumping into our heads, what would you do when you lost all of WHAT-YOU-THINK is basic to you now is no longer basic when you have no fire and clean water to begin with.
This is a great book and I just got to know that this book is already in the progress of turning into a movie. I would love to see how all of this turns out.
Ratings: 5 out of 5 stars
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I know of many who has heard Jesus's ever famous parable "The Prodigal Son". And I know of many who hasn't got the chance to hear about it too, which I think they might have a hint since many story's adaptation has minor hints of this parable. In my years of being a believer of Christ, this parable speaks to me in so many ways. It has so many dimensions that this can be a very good material for all people (especially Christians).
Only 7 chapters and this book is able to astound me by realizing how one parable is able to sum up the Bible as a whole. I never knew who was the original audience that Jesus was REALLY speaking to when it was being told.
Tim Keller started out by clarifying the definition of Prodigal:
1) Recklessly Extravagant
2) Having Spent Everything
Note this, this parable was a response to the grumbling Pharisees around him and Jesus starts the story by saying "There was a man who had two sons." Now, this is where the discussion starts.
Firstly, Timothy has laid down all the foundation of the Middle Eastern patriarchal practices when he further breakdown the story by explaining how inappropriate these two sons has shown towards their father. Secondly, this book shows us there were two types of sons who sins against the father. The "Younger Brother" is the one who has rebel but repented. The "Elder Brother" would be the one who refuses to forgive both the father & brother for what he thinks he should be the one getting rewarded.
Our society is divided into two cultures, as Keller points out. The culture of the "older brother" is the conventional moral conformist, commonly known for "stability" as well as striving to please authority figures. The "younger brother" culture lives by their own rules, walking a path of self-discovery. Every person gravitates to one of these two categories, and some combine the two. Both cultures proclaim, "If those people would follow our example, the world would be a better place." Our problem is that, no matter what side of the cultural divide we land on, we still play the role of the two lost sons, alienating ourselves from the Father by a self-centered focus on either keeping all the rules or breaking them all.
Overall, I love how this parable has executed for the greater good for the Christian community. Now I know why many are getting away from the Christian's faith. It is because of us who portrays so much like the "Elder Brother" that drives people away from God. Good read!
Ratings: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Review Link
No way! No *effin* way!!! You can't just end it like that. It's illegal! This is an abomination to end such a fantastic build up. You can't possibly expect to me to be left hanging just like this. It's wrong! It's abusive to the readers!
The whole build up was fantastic. The dreams, the interrogation and the whole drama that was placed right in front of the readers face. Wait, am I assuming too much that Prince Robot IV is a little bi-curious? I literally saw his monitor flashing gay orgies with tons of penis in it. Is that why he's avoiding to go home?
This will be the end of Volume 02 in the series. So good!
Ratings: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads Review Link
