Ron and I are both less than romantic. Christmas, birthday and anniversary gifts are not huge surprises. We have each started a wish list on Amazon and when the season comes, I sign in and purchase one of the items on his list. Both of our lists are full of books. So, that is what I get for gifts. It is inexpensive and easy. And, we both get what we truly want.
Being under-the-weather when I have a treasure trove of new books would have been no fun at all if everyone wasn't sleeping more, laying around watching movies and having down time of their own. This last several weeks is the first time since the kids moved in that I have had a great deal of time to devote to reading books that are not purchased in the children's section of the bookstore.
In Their Own Voices: Transracial Adoptees Tell Their Stories by Rita James Simon, Rhonda M. Roorda
Obviously, this book will appeal most to those families who have adopted transracially. The book tells the story of black and biracial adults who were raised in white families. This book wasn't exactly what I expected. Based upon the editorial on Amazon.com I was expecting a more scholarly presentation -- more like a descriptive research study. Instead, this is a more of a coffee-cup discussion between the authors and the individuals they interviewed. Each interview is unique and, while each touched on racial identity and how those were affected by growing up in a white family, it falls short of outlining individual and environmental differences that positively shaped each person's outcome. In fact, some of the people interviewed who told a story of growing up in an environment completely void of black peers and mentor and whose families did little to incorporate black history and culture in their childhood presented themselves as more comfortable with themselves as a black man or woman than those who grew up in more integrated neighborhoods. In the end, the authors attempt to draw conclusions from their interviews. In my opinion, their efforts are hindered by their method of data collection. Still, I have committed to raising adults who are secure in who they are. This book gives me insight into the adult lives of transracial adoptees.
"All the participants believe that transracial adoption served them well; all of them feel connected to their adoptive parents; and all, except one, support transracial adoption, but, with the strong recommendation that agencies and prospective parents recognize the importance of learning about their child's racial history and culture and make that history and culture a part of both their child's life and their family life."
The Warrior Method: A Parents' Guide to Rearing Healthy Black Boys by Raymond Winbush
Honestly, I struggled with this book. The author begins the book by outlining Destructive Black Male Behaviors and later outlines Child-Rearing Strategies. Both of these "lists" are dismissive of those who have different ideas than the author's. Finally, it seemed that on every page, I was met with a direct assault on my Worldview. One example:
"Black Way parents are rare. At the core of their child rearing methods is the belief that African-centered methods and values are the only choice in raising healthy black boys in America... Kwanzaa is given a place in their home, and its Nguzo Saba (Seven Principles) are valued throughout the year and taught to future generations."
According to Carlotta Morrow, The Truth About Kwanzaa, the word Kwanzaa is derived from the swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means first fruits. Anyone who has read this blog knows that our family already celebrates first fruits; Christ rose from the dead on the Feast of First Fruits. The book goes on to offer "sample" prayers to ancestors. It seems that by rejecting the dominant European culture of the United States, a black person must also reject Christianity.
Still, in the end I had to say that I appreciated the author's insight. He reiterated what those who have been transracially adopted had said; teach your child his history and culture -- do it on purpose.
The Lost Book of Enoch: Comprehensive Transliteration of the Forgotten Book of the Bible by Joseph B. Lumpkin
Jewish sages generally passed down a saying or tradition with the name of its originator. The name of the person quoted as the source is then used for dating the quote. Jude quotes the Book of Enoch.
It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones, to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him." ~ Jude 1:14-15
I have a self-inflicted goal. Every 5th book I read, I try to make sure it was written more than 100 years ago. I don't want my thinking stuck in 21st century America. This book predates Christianity. Copies of portions of it were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls. The book is included in the Canon of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. It is quoted by many church fathers. The book contains the story of fallen angels, prophecy concerning The Elect One and detailed eschatology. The language and visions are reminiscent of the writings of Daniel and John the Revelator.
Perhaps some of what is recorded in the Book of Enoch was really spoken by Enoch and memorized and passed down orally from generation to generation. Still, as I was reading it, I had the sense that I was reading an ancient equivalent of the Left Behind series, a religious fiction story. Some ancient raconteur added names, stories and legends to the stories passed down through the Mikra, that which is read, and the Mishnah, that which is repeated -- the oral traditions. I began to wonder just how ancient the book was though. As I was reading it, one of the quotes that stood out to me was:
"Approach and hear my voice. Go and say to the Watchers of heaven, for whom you have come to intercede: 'You should intercede for men, and not men for you.'" ~1 Enoch 15:2
The Watchers that Enoch was interceding for were the sons of God, angels, who had left heaven and took the sons of man, humans, for their wives. Their offspring were the Nephilim. (Genesis 6) The Book of Enoch goes into great detail about this rather vague story in the beginning of the Bible. It names the leaders of the Watchers and goes into detail about their activities on earth. The Book of Enoch also goes into quite a bit of detail about the holy angels who remain faithful to God. When I was preparing to adopt Beverly and David, I read about Haitian Voodoo, a monotheistic religion -- a belief that insist that God be approached through spirit mediators. Could the Watchers and holy angels of Enoch be the foundation of the spiritual beings central to the beliefs of those in Western Africa? If we are to believe the story of Babel, it seems that the ancestors of these Africans would have had a memory of a monotheistic God and a spirit world.
Again, this story will not appeal to everyone. However, the book was well respected at the time of Christ and was known to the Early Chuch fathers. It tells us something of the beliefs and culture surrounding Christ. And, gives us insight into how some of Christ's sayings would have been interpreted by his audience. A good read, but not one that upset my world view.
Currently, I am reading The Doors of the Sea: Where Was God in the Tsunami? by David Bentley Hart. I have also joined a group on homeschooling moms at The Homeschool Lounge in reading The Excellent Wife: A Biblical Perspective by Martha Peace. This is my first attempt at a "Women's Bible Study." I generally prefer to study the Bible rather than books about the Bible. And, my preferred Bible study partner is Ron.
I am reading books written for adults -- I feel so grown up!
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