Part 1 of our summer reading, Dante’s Divine Comedy, is called the Inferno. Dante travels through Hell on his journey through the supernatural realms (books 2 and 3 are purgatory and paradise, respectively). The book is poetry, translated from Italian, and as such it isn’t necessarily an easy read. However, it is very intriguing imagery and Ciardi’s translation allows for explanation on the themes that Dante is developing. I am really enjoying the read. I’m not very familiar with Dante’s…

I fought the battle for awhile. “I like holding a book in my hands.” “I like the smell of real books.” “There is just something about reading a real book that you can’t replicate.” These were all my statements made in defense of why I wouldn’t read on an eReader like an iPad or Kindle. I was a purist I told myself. And it isn’t like I don’t read a lot, so this was an important issue for me to…

I just finished Malcolm Gladwell’s latest book Outliers. It is absolutely fantastic. As soon as I got into chapter one I was reminded of why I enjoy Gladwell’s style so much. It is rich with case studies, stories, and ideas that cause your brain to process things like you’ve never done before. This book is loaded with incredible ideas on why certain people succeed and others don’t. Is it as simple as the best rising to the top? Gladwell argues…

If you had a twinge of interest in joining us for this summer’s reading through Dante’s Divine Comedy, here is your reminder to buy your book and join us in reading it! If you already bought your book but don’t like the translation, or are trying to pick between multiple translations, I’d recommend John Ciardi’s translation. He writes in simple, modern day English but also includes a summary at the beginning and end of each chapter that is incredibly beneficial…

My reading schedule has evolved over the years and now has a bit of a seasonal approach to determining what I read. In the winter time I read a hearty (long) biography on someone and in the summer I read a piece of classic literature. Usually others join in on this and it is fun to dialogue through the reading with other people. This summer I will be reading Dante’s Divine Comedy and I am officially inviting you to join…