I haven't posted since Feb so here's what I've read since then:

I've been incredibly busy recently and have not had the time to post. Nor have I had the time to read many books. Here's what I've managed to find time for:

American Shaolin: Flying Kicks, Buddhist Monks, and the Legend of Iron Crotch: An Odyssey in the New China - Matthew Polly

This was a really interesting book. It's an autobiography about an average guy who decides that he's going to fly to China and learn how to fight like the Shaolin monks. He drops out of Yale, angers his family, and flys to China in the 80's. I really enjoyed it because it not only discribes a lot of different aspects of Chinese culture, but Matt is not afraid to tell you about the stupid mistakes he's made and the embarrassing moments that I would never have the curage to discuss with even my closest friends. I've never been interested in any type of martial arts in my life, but he made me actually consider it for a few moments. Although, give me an opportunity to live in another country and participate in its customs and I'm generally more than willing, as long as I can handle the food. (I hate being a picky eater!)

River God: A Novel of Ancient Egypt - Wilbur Smith

I loved this book. I really got behind the characters and loved the heroins and hated the vilians. I was fully engaged in the book while reading. There was a bit of a love story envolved, but it was interesting because it was told from the perspective of a slave rather than a pharoh or warrior. Now, of course, this slave is supposidly the most talented person to have ever lived in Egypt, but at least that provides an opportunity for Smith to bring in art, architecture, advances in warfare, and technology. If you're interested in Egypt you might enjoy it. If you're an Egyptologist, you'll probably find an error or two.

The Book of Useless Information - Noel Botham

Hehe. Fun. Cute to keep you entertained on a long car ride.

The Book of Merlin - T.H. White

You know, I get it, but I still didn't like it. I tried reading this in high school and I got stuck on the communist ants. Again, I couldn't really get past it. I guess after The Once and Future King I was expecting a little more. I can just imagine how much trouble this book caused when it came out. If you love debates over which governmental system is best, here's a book for you.

The Aeneid - Virgil

This book reminded me a lot of The Illiad without the major listing of people. I loved the first part of the book, but my interests kind of tapered a bit after Dido's death. I had been wondering why schools don't make kids read this book over The Illiad since it was more entertaining, but after Dido's death, I stopped questioning the choice. I spent most of my time compairing the styles between Virgil and Homer and how writing had changed from Ancient Greek to Anciet Rome. It's an interesting comparison.

• The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

Most people applaud this book as being amazing, as do I. The Kite Runner gives you a brief glimpse at the Russian and Taliban occupation of Afghanistan. (It's not the primary theme of the book, but a significant part of the book). I think it's so important because it shows people that not ever Afghan is pro Taliban, anti-America, etc. Not that I haven't understood that since the beginning, but I can't believe the amount of people out there that don't believe that Afghans are capable of independent thought and that they're all out to get "us." Well, they can think for themselves, and not everyone is pro violence. They've grown up in an era of violence and that's negatively influenced a lot of people, some just failed to cope with it properly.

Anyway, the basic plot is one that a lot of people can understand and I think it's both gut-wrenching and heart-warming at the same time. If you're not up for the read, watch the movie. I hear it's good too. Maybe I'll watch it someday. =)

• Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School At Home - Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

I wish everyone would read this book. It was an amazing story that really inspires one to do something for the good of others. Greg Mortenson stays with a Pakistan village after a failed attempt at K2 and realizes that something as simple as a school would make a tremendous difference in their daily lives. He returns to the states and works hard to find money to fund the school he promised. His success leads to the creation of the Central Asia Institute (CAI) and many more schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Greg's story is inspiring and his work has had an amazing effect on the students in these poor villages. Check out his web site or donate a few pennies to Pennies for Peace. If you buy the book on Amazon, some of the money will go to the organization. It's worth it. This is one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read.