Recent Reads: A Non-fiction and a Classic
My thoughts on the two books I most recently finished.
Person of Interest, by J. Warner Wallace
In this Christian apologetics book, Wallace describes what he calls a no body homicide case to demonstrate the technique he used to test the claims of Christians about Jesus. He was surprised to discover that Jesus has influenced every aspect of history. Wallace’s investigation not only enumerates the impact Jesus had on humanity, but also researches less discussed topics like why Jesus came when He did, and how the new testament gospels are just a small piece of the massive amount of evidence pointing to Jesus as the most important person of all time. Jesus inspired more artists, scientists, writers, musicians, and even other religions than any other person in history. Not only did Jesus change the world as it was known, He changes hearts today. Wallace had been an atheist at the start of his investigation, and ended by trusting Jesus with his salvation.
“I’m a Christian today because Christianity is true. Demonstrably true….my high regard for truth leaves me no alternative but to embrace Jesus as history’s person of interest and my personal savior.”
Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte
Relating to characters in a story is one of the main things that makes a story enjoyable. Given that most of the main characters in this novel are unnaturally montrous, it wasn’t exactly an enjoyable read. It took a little while for me to figure out what I think the point of the book is, or if it had any moral to the story. I concluded that the point (and most prevalent behavior in the book) was selfishness — its affects on the one exhibiting the trait, and also on those who enable the behavior (e.g. Edgar Linton turning back after he first saw Catherine’s tantrum and true character). Heathcliff’s life shows the futility of pure selfishness. He spent his whole life only thinking about his own desires, and making sure no one around him would end up with what he wanted for himself. The result, however, was no happiness while he was alive, and though he did manage to ruin much of his family’s lives, once he was gone, those who remained moved on and regained the happiness he had worked so hard to suffocate.
Unfortunately, with Emily Bronte’s early death, we don’t exactly know her motives for the story and each of its characters. Maybe this is why it has stood the test of time; each reader is able to find their own meaning, and to take away their own life lessons from the experience.
