Author: Stephen Mitchell
Pages: 128
For my quarter four literary café, I read a book called Tao Te Ching. At first sight when Mrs. Diamond showed me that it was a Chinese book, I thought why the doosie should I read this? Well, all I have to say is never judge a book by its cover (if I did I never would have picked it up in the first place, and I am glad I did). For those of you who don’t really dig the spiritual mumbo-jumbo, then don’t even bother reading this book because that’s all it is. It is a book chock full of poems that tell you what to look forward to in life and how to live it, like this poem:
Fame or integrity: which is more important?
Money or happiness: which is more valuable?
Success or failure: which is more destructive?
When reading this book, you have to go slowly and go over each page and explicate each poem to get what you are reading. I also like this poem:
True perfection seems imperfect,
Yet it is perfectly itself.
True fullness seems empty,
Yet it is fully present.
This poem really speaks to me because it is SO true. When you work soooo hard to get to something it feels like there should be more to do, but it is why you always look forward to the small things in life.
Great review! I can hear you saying this post with words like doosie. Your insight was superb with different ways you connected this book to your own life. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThis book seems like something everyone could connect to in there life. From these two poems, it seems like they can help boost comfidence with yourself. Also, it seemed like this book kept you interested. This was a different way of posting your blog for Quarter 4 Literary Cafe, but it was effective to everyone reading the post. Nice Job!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try my best to not to be demeaning toward the other reviews on this blog, but im going to put this right out there: this is my favorite review. It is my favorite review because of how distinct it is. If you read MY review i talk about how my author's writing is plain, and not distinct at all. Derek Chase is the opposite. You incorporate words like "doosie" and not just that, but youre overall style. You dont have to be some intellegent, creme de' la crop scholar to write a good review. You can make it youre own by it having that "Derek Style". Im not saying youre not intellegent! Im saying you dont have to be this particular way to write a good review. In fact, i rather have a review with style, and it be unique that a book that does get all the facts, but doesnt captivate me as much. This captivated me. You also show support by qouting, and actually putting the poems from the book on the blog post. It is one thing to say a book did this, while it is better to say the book did this, and this is an excerpt that proves that it did this. Outstanding job, man,
ReplyDeleteThat was deep Derek. :) Sounds good, and inspiring. Glad you put so much personality into your little post, convincing. Good job Derek! :D
ReplyDelete"When reading this book, you have to go slowly and go over each page and explicate each poem to get what you are reading." EXACTLY!!!!! Some people carry this book around with them to do just that, over and over, to gain more meaing each time. Great job!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like everyone would like this book. I like how you expressed your thoughts in your blog and what you thought of it. After you put those two poems in your blog it made me want to read this book and read it a couple times. good job!
ReplyDeleteI like that you read poetry and are open about it. And, one question: do you (or anyone) know what " tao te ching" means?
ReplyDeleteI was goint to ask that too Mitchel. I also was wondering if there is a storyline to, or is it just like a collection of poems and sayings together?
ReplyDeleteDerek~
ReplyDeleteI think it's really cool that you chose a book out of your usual genre/book type. This book sounds like something a teacher or adult would read and I applaud you for taking on the challenge with this book!