An informal book review of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix:
I finished the biggest book ever (in more ways than one) this weekend, and I had a few thoughts. Eventually I might refine this into a real review, but for now this is all I can manage.

The money and power has gone to their head. The publishers of Harry Potter have such a phenomenon on their hands that they’ve gotten sloppy. They’ve given J. K. Rowling too much freedom, and she’s beginning to waver. Now hear me out, I’m not trying to rip the book apart. I liked it. But I think like so many sequels and prequels, it’s fallen short.

I think the editors gave Rowling the freedom to write what she wants, and since she’s made them millions, they didn’t bother to subject The Order of the Phoenix to the same editorial rigor that most books are subjected to. The result is not bad grammar or weak spots, but instead a plot that flows where it wants, unfettered by the restraints of sanity and good judgment. She wrote an 800 page novel for goodness sake. You don’t do that for a reason. It takes 200 pages before Harry even returns to school, and nothing worth one quarter of the book happens in that first quarter.

This freedom has let the story wander, and unless I’m mistaken and Rowling plans to chase down those stray fragments in parts six and seven, I think this is a classic genius blunder. She knows what she’s doing, let’s not edit her like we did for the first books. Bad idea. Every writer needs to be edited.

The story wasn’t a let down, but it could have been more. I’ve heard some people say that the unedited fun is great–who wouldn’t want more time in the Harry Potter world? Tromping around in the fantasy is great, but only if it serves the story. In this case I think it just makes for a fatter book.

On the bright side, Rowling is letting her characters go through adolescence, which is as painful to read as it is to live through. Harry is such a dork sometimes. At times I think Rowling is letting her characters grow in stereotypically teenager ways, but I think for the most part she’s doing a good job.

What’s amazing about this series is that there’s a generation of kids growing up with Harry Potter. And it’s not like Star Wars where the characters may learn and grow, but we don’t see them age along with us (though I suppose with the pre-quels we’re seeing some regression). Some kids starting reading Harry Potter when they were the same age as Harry. As Harry goes through puberty, so are they.

The other day I finished reading The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. It’s a teen girl book that’s diverse enough to keep anyone interested (it follows four unique friends) and not quite deep enough to lose those afraid of using their brains. In all it was a good read, but I wished it explored the issues it raised a little deeper. It seemed to scratch the surface and move on, leaving me wanting more.

Of course the sequel came out this year, and I’m beginning to see it as a part of a larger trend in literature: Chick Lit. The Traveling Pants is barely a part of the Chick Lit trend, which centers more around books like Bridget Jones’ Diary, but it’s almost a teen version, Chick Lit Lite, if you will (similar books include Sloppy Firsts, Second Helpings, Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging, What My Mother Doesn’t Know, and Gossip Girl among others). Last night I was in Target and I realized the sudden proliferation of these Chick Lit books (like Confessions of a Shopaholic, Mr. Maybe, Milkrun, See Jane Date, Asking for Trouble, and The Trials of Tiffany Trott, among others). They’re all written by young women and feature the stories of young, hip, single, sexy urban women who are chasing after the perfect guy. They’ve all got hip attitude and cynicism, and are packaged in pastels or with attention grabbing photos of hip urban women. It’s amazing how quickly a trend like this can come and go. After all, if Target devotes an endcap to it, you know it’s yesterday’s news.

And if Kevin is pondering about it, you know it must be even older news. I love discovering bandwagons long after they’ve left.

I’m reading How to Be Good by Nick Hornby. The plot centers around a rocky marriage that’s weathering a wife’s affair and a husband’s sudden spiritual enlightenment. The husband is suddenly enlightened to what an angry jerk he’s been and he wants to make a difference in the world. He forgets his former hang-ups and the unspoken social rules he used to follow and tries to make the world a better place. He gives away his possessions and organizes his neighborhood to house homeless runaway kids in their spare bedrooms. I’m not finished yet, but so far he looks like a total freak, he’s driving his children and wife away, and he’s not making much of a dent in the world changing business.

I don’t think Hornby intended the comparison, but I can’t help but think this is what Jesus intended. Jesus is the kind of guy who would let a homeless kid sleep in his spare bedroom. While most of us would kick the kid out on his butt when he steals something, Jesus would invite the kid back in. The kid would steal time and time again and Jesus would open the door again and let the kid back in, leaving his world wide open to be ripped off. That’s what’s so amazingly frustrating about Jesus. Common sense and self-preservation aren’t an issue. If someone beat the crap out of Jesus, he’d still love them.

That’s such a high call. How can we even live up to that? I need to protect my family, my possessions, my financial security. I risk losing face, I risk feeling dumb, I risk embarrassment and being uncomfortable. But Jesus didn’t recognize social norms or embarrassment or losing face. None of that meant anything to him. That’s why he’s Jesus Christ.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth and long awaited Potter book, will hit stores on June 21.The new book is a whopping 255,000 words, one-third longer than the last Potter book. For comparison, the King James version of the New Testament is only 181,000 words.

It’s the end of ’02, and once again it’s time to see the list of everything Kevin’s read this year. Now I don’t do this to gloat (okay, I do), but to recommend some good books. Writing is about reading, so I read. And if you don’t know by now, I read this much by riding the bus. Mmm… bus. I’m also proud to say that I beat last year’s tally. Of course it probably helps that I read a number of kid’s books. But hey, they’re still books.

So without further yacking, Kevin’s 2002 Reading List:

Ophelia Speaks by Sara Shandler
Teenage girls write about their experiences. Not exactly happy reading.

All New People by Anne Lamott
Fiction from one of my favorites, though not her best.

Enter the Worship Circle by Ben Pasley
Excellent introduction to God, very post-modern approach.

Strength to Love by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Collection of sermons, essays, and just smart stuff.

The Body Project: An Intimate History of American Girls by Joan Jacob Brumberg
An interesting look at the history of how we view the female body.

The Jesus Generation by Billy Graham
Billy “raps” with the kids to get them to “turn on” to Jesus.

On Writing by Stephen King
Unique insights on writing from the master of horror.

Big Trouble by Dave Barry
Pretty funny novel for a columnist.

The Stand by Stephen King
OK, I had to read some Stephen King. And it was really good.

The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey
This is a must-read.

When Bad Christians Happen to Good People by Dave Burchett
Medicine for those who’ve had bad experiences with Christianity.

What’s so Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey
Another must-read. Bono even recommends it.

Babyhood by Paul Reiser
A fairly humorous look at parenthood. Yikes.

Open Heart by Frederick Buechner
Another in the book of Bebb series. Great character development.

Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado
Read it so I could be justified in ripping on Lucado. Consider me justified.

There’s A Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom by Louis Sachar
Sachar is the best when you need some light kid’s reading.

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Of course Dahl is pretty good, too.

The BFG by Roald Dahl
So why not read him twice?

The Gospel According to the Son by Norman Mailer
Interesting look at Jesus.

Sixth Grade Secrets by Louis Sachar
Once you start with Sachar you have to read some more.

Redesigning the American Lawn
Wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to mow the lawn?

Rebel With a Cause by Franklin Graham
The story of Billy Graham’s eldest son.

Downers Grove by Michael Hornburg
I’ve been reading this in the bookstore for months and finally got my own copy. Not bad.

The Umbrella Man and Other Stories by Roald Dahl
Short stories for adults, some fairly dark.

Flint by Louis L’amour
Ah, nothing like a western.

The Quick and the Dead by Louis L’amour
And then some more.

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (didn’t finish)
Started out interested, but then he lost me.

A Live Coal in the Sea by Madeliene L’Engle
Excellent novel for adults.

The Memory of Old Jack by Wendell Berry
Berry is so good at doing characters.

Just As I Am by Billy Graham
The details in this are amazing.

Dakota by Kathleen Norris
Good reading after you’ve been through South Dakota. Pitters out at the end.

Walking on Water by Madeliene L’Engle
I should re-read this every year.

A Wind in the Door by Madeliene L’Engle
Her children’s books are so engaging.

S. by John Updike
Had to read some Updike. Amazing writing.

Speaking with the Angel by various, edited by Nick Hornby
Interesting [and lewd] short stories

I Am Relevant by various
Very inspiring book.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Freaky considering the cloning news lately.

The Name by Franklin Graham
Not exactly Pulitzer material here.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Great story, better than the movie.

Teaching a Stone to Talk by Annie Dillard
Good essays from the modern legend.

A Sort of Life by Graham Greene
A pretty dull autobiography that ends before his life gets interesting.

The Power of Positive Thinking for Teens by Mary Lou Carney
The selling power of drivel.

Among School Children by Tracy Kidder
Proof that teachers should be paid like doctors.

The Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
She keeps getting better and better.

Ordinary Resurrections by Jonathan Kozol
This just makes you angry.

Soul Survivor by Philip Yancey
Introductions to the people who inspired Yancey.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Excellent autobiography, but it ends too suddenly.

Taming of the Shrew by Shakespeare
Now I remember why I don’t like Shakespeare.

Walk On by Steve Stockman
Read it again in preparation for an article, underlined for myself.

Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
Saw Two Towers, couldn’t remember how it all ended.

God help us.

There are people everywhere you look. You have to try to get by yourself, to get away from all the humanity. The people living out in the small towns, out in the fields might wonder at the sanity of talking about a population problem. They see nothing but room around them, open space, empty fields, quiet. But plop them in the city, watching the cars pass in the thousands, and they’ll understand.

A reoccurring theme in literature is what happens when you have to start over. It’s happened in our history several times, the colonies, the space stations, the stranded explorers. A fight for survival when man suddenly has to take a step backward to take a step forward. The Lord of the Flies touched on this, boys trying to survive on an island, apart from civilization. The question is if untamed human nature will splinter and shatter and cave in upon itself. Entropy.

I’m reading The Stand by Stephen King, and the very same thing is happening. 99 percent of the world’s population is wiped out by a super flu, and the survivors are left to rebuild society. I wanted to read the book because the thought of a plague was interesting, but now the even more interesting part is watching the survivors cope. Watching the empty towns disintegrate and wander what will happen with all their inhabitants dead. Nature begins to take over again, but how long will it take for nature to overcome a stranded truck, a stretch of asphalt, a lone house, let alone an entire town, or worse yet, a large city.

It’s all interesting stuff, especially when you consider the sudden role reversal. Artists and musicians and all kinds of workers are suddenly worthless. Your skill at fixing wiring is useless when there’s no power. Your skill at playing the guitar is worthless when you have nothing to eat.

Values are suddenly re-prioritized, and it makes me wonder why they weren’t that way in the first place. Some things are important, the rest is just details.

The following is every book I’ve read this year that I can remember. I’m not posting this to brag, but more to look back on my reading accomplishments. If you want to be a writer, you have to read, and it’s good to see a list that proves I’ve been doing that. Thanks to the glory of the used book shop, I own most of these titles. And the most asked question, how do you have time to read that many books? It’s called public transportation, people. Stop driving your car and stressing out in rush hour traffic. Settle down on the bus, let someone else do the driving, and lose yourself in a good book.

So, presented in something close to the order I read them in, my reading list for the year 2001:

Amazing Grace by Jonathan Kozol
eye-opening book about inner city life.

African Tears by Catherine Buckle
a painful account of the land wars in Zimbabwe

The Rock and Roll Rebellion by Mark Joseph
an argument for the abolishment of Christian music as a genre

The Virgin of Bennington by Kathleen Norris
part coming of age memoir, part ode to mentor

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Jester
wonderfully imaginative children’s story

Brighton Rock by Graham Greene
interesting story but it wasn’t my favorite of his

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
great story, pisses off a lot of Christians

Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver
pretty good story, but doesn’t have the grand themes of Poisonwood

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
good book about how to write

Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott
about the birth of her son and her friend’s battle with cancer

Crooked Little Heart by Anne Lamott
my first Lamott novel: excellent

Tangerine by Edward Bloor
late elementary/middle school novel, fun read

Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
the classic environmental book, I got the point before finishing and quit

River Teeth by David James Duncan
collection of funny and quirky short stories

Praise, Anxiety and Other Symptoms of Grace by Joey Horstman
collection of funny and quirky essays

May There Be A Road by Louis L’Amour
collection of short stories by the master, these must be the rejects

Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L’Amour
excellent memoir by the master, gives you a great overview of his life

Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
you’ll think twice before going to McDonalds, but it’s not as gross as I expected

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
classic and hilarious

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams
classic and hilarious

Slaugherhouse V by Kurt Vonnegut
lacks the narrative flow I expected, but still worth the read

Letters from a Nut by Ted L. Nancy
just plain funny

Into the Heart by Niall Stokes
the stories behind every U2 song, interesting, but lacks real depth

Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
excellent story and deep themes about modernization

Word Freak by Stefan Fatsis
more than you ever wanted to know about the world of competitive Scrabble

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
scary glimpse of the future, especially after Sept. 11

The Gospel According to the Simpsons by Mark Pinsky
a rebuttal to all the parents who wouldn’t let their kids watch the Simpsons

Walk On by Steve Stockman
an exploration of the faith of rock band U2

Rabbit, Run by John Updike
not my favorite story, but man can this guy write

An Invisible Sign of My Own by Aimee Bender
weird, quirky, funky story

Elect Mr. Robinson for a Better World by Donald Antrium
this is the one book I wish I hadn’t read — waste of time

The Princess Bride by William Goldman
the abridged version of the original, almost as funny as the movie

Surviving Brick Johnson by Laurie Myers
fun mid-elementary book, and one of the characters is named Brick

Final Roar by Bob Briner
follow up to Roaring Lambs, more of the same, but still just as challenging

Telling Secrets by Frederick Buechner
meandering memoir about his secrets, most notably his daughter’s eating disorder

Lion Country by Frederick Buechner
well-written story

Wasted by Marya Hornbacher
eye-opening account of her 9 year + battle with eating disorders

And right now I’m reading …

Ophelia Speaks
teenage girls write about their experiences, and growing up today is not a fun experience

The Hendricks Memorial Library. It almost a nice ring to it. Of course my personal library isn’t in memorial to any Hendricks that I’m aware of. And I really don’t think I could bring myself to give my library such a stuffy name.

Last night my wife and I rearranged our books, a collection that is well on its way to being a library. It takes up to full bookcases right now, with a few books spilling over. You could say we have a bit of a habit. Fortunately I can say I’ve read most of them. The few I haven’t read I plan to. I’m also proud to say that most of the books were bought used, for we certainly couldn’t afford to buy half these books new.

I like having a library. It’s nice to actually own some good books, to be able to turn to a shelf and run your finger along the bindings, looking for a good book for a sunny afternoon. I also appreciate the substance of our library. Lots of books by thoughtful Christians, who aren’t always known as Christians: Graham Greene, Frederick Buechner, Anne Lamott, Annie Dillard, Madeleine L’Engle, John Updike, Kathleen Norris, Flannery O’Connor and on and on. There’s also other authors that may not profess a faith in Christ, but do understand the importance of deep thinking and spiritual reflection: Jonathan Kozol, Maya Angelou, Barbara Kingsolver, and on and on. These are the kind of writers I admire, the kinds of writers who make a profound impact on our society. They’re a far cry from the Christian bookstore authors, the ones with lots of fame and adoration inside the church, and little if any impact in society at large.

It’s also a library full of kids books: Dr. Seuss, Louis Sachar, Roald Dahl, Shel Silverstein. Sometimes you need to go back just as much as you need to go forward.

And hopefully it’s a library that will get much use.