The Third Jesus by Deepak Chopra

The first Jesus, according to Deepak Chopra, is the historical person about whom we know next to nothing. The second one is the Jesus presented in the Bible and by most Christian churches: the son of God coming to save humankind from sinfulness. The third Jesus, according to Chopra, is a mystic trying to shift the world's perception of God to one that is less rigid and judgmental. Jesus' God is a God of grace and "A God capable of being pleased and displeased isn't a God of grace, since the essence of grace is unconditional love." Chopra goes on to interpret the life and alleged words of Jesus in terms of mysticism as it has been experienced in all religions. He also gives instruction on how to enhance your spiritual development. An excellent book for discussion.

Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef

Mosab Hassan Yousef is the oldest son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a devote Muslim who helped found the organization called Hamas. That group has supported Muslims with good community services, but has also waged war against Israel and against fellow Muslims of its competing organization, Yasser Arafat's Fatah. Mosab's memoir shows how he grew from being a Palestinian boy who threw rocks at Israeli soldiers to being, first, a trusted member of Hamas, then a spy for the Israelis, and finally a convert to Christianity. It is truly an incredible journey in which a young man casts around for his own values and priorities while playing deceptive games with dangerous characters bent on destroying each other. Son of Hamas provides good insight into what it is to be caught in the Middle East conflict.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Great chick lit! Snow Flower and the Secret Fan tells the story of two girls who grow to womanhood in remote villages of 19th century China. The reader is taken deep into Chinese culture with descriptions of footbinding, domestic skills, marriage and family relationships, and socio-economic status. But the key is the relationship between the two girls, Lily and Snow Flower, who are born on the same day and are allowed to become laotongs; that is, they sign a contract at age 11 to become life-long friends. Lily is the book's narrator, but she has limited knowledge of Snow Flower's life. As the relationship plays out over their lifetimes, Lily learns more of who Snow Flower is; and in doing so, reveals her own limitations.

Going Rogue by Sarah Palin

I've kept this book carefully hidden in my bedroom because there are too many people who would sneer at me for reading it. Nevertheless, with 1.6 million copies (hard cover) in print, it aroused my curiosity. There are no real surprises. Except for the political activity, the Palins do seem to be a typical American family. I was a little disappointed that Sarah did not talk more about how she handled being a mother and active politician at the same time after Trig was born, but I realized that the book presents her in a way that would support a further political career. She knew full well that quitting the governorship might end her career, but she and Alaska's legal team were inundated with FOI requests and complaints of ethics violations and they weren't getting much else done. It was death by a thousand cuts and she simply decided to shake it off and move on. Sarah is a very tough and interesting person and it will be fun to see what she does next.

Trail of Crumbs by Kim Sunée

An abandoned girl is adopted in Korea at age three and is then raised in New Orleans. But the focus of her memoir, Trail of Crumbs, is on the years of her twenties when she lives in Sweden and France. She becomes involved with a very wealthy married man who gives her a beautiful life in Provence and Paris; yet Kim still feels rootless and restless. All the while, Kim is cooking, eating, and emerging herself in the world of food. Her memoir is full of recipes and has a recipe index at the end. Even though this is a fascinating life story and is well written, it is easy for the reader to feel that Kim is whiney and unappreciative. Since the book has been published, her adoptive mother has stopped talking to her.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

In 1939 a nine-year-old girl named Liesel is deposited by her mother with a foster family in a small town in Germany. No one seems to know why or how this came about, but the girl adjusts to her new home and grows into adolescence against the backdrop of rising Nazi aggression. Her childhood made interesting by adventures she and her friend Rudy get into and by her family's harboring of a Jewish man. Eventually to war gets to their small town near Munich and the fates of Liesel, her parents, Ruby, and the hidden Jew are played out amidst the chaos of Germany's defeat. The Book Thief is a well written and compelling story.

China's Son by Da Chen

Coming of age in China during the reign of Mao was not easy for the grandson of a landlord. His whole family was discriminated against because of its bourgeois history. Chen dropped out of school after having been tormented by class members indoctrinated He hung out with thugs who set up gambling scams. Then Mao died and China began to change. Chen could see that there might be opportunity for those who pursued education, so he buckled down and hit the books in preparation for nationwide tests. His family worked long hours and often went hungry in order to support his efforts. His struggles, set within a changing political situation, are fascinating.