I've received a few complaints about the blog being quiet so I'll remove myself from the dual boredoms of working at the DMV and studying for the GRE exam for my graduate school application.

The word of the day, while we're on the subject, is BUXOM. Definition out of the GRE book: fully bossomed. Or - big boobed. BUXOM... that could be the name of Pamela Anderson's new TV show instead of STACKED if she had as big of a brain as she does a chest. Of course, I don't know if silicon has any effects on the brain's ability to retain vocabulary...

I digress...

So this picture isn't here just for fun, I actually finsihed another book. It is about damn time right?

My first observation about this book, which surely stems from my vocab studying, is that John Krakuer could probably do very well on the verbal section of the GRE. Lots of big words, but they're all in context so it doesn't drive you crazy or anything.

The subject of UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN is the fundamentalist/polygamist wing of the Mormon church. I want to be clear right away - this book isn't a Mormon bashing book. These fundamentalists don't represent the mainstream Mormon church any more than the few jihadists represent the billion Muslims. However, just like Islam, perceptions of the extremists are more vivid and subsequently the mainstream gains the stereotypes.

Mormonism is an interesting religion to me because it is a compeltely American construct and whereas other major religions blossomed thousands of years ago, this religion is only about 175. That's old, even for a sea turtle, but not so old that there isn't tons of documentation from both the founders and those who opposed them in the religion's early years. By studying the growth of Mormonism you not only gain perspective on one of the fastest growing faiths in the world, you gain perspective on the growth of organized religion in general. As you read about the conflicts between early church founders and sharp divides within church doctrine, you learn not only about the origin of various Mormon sects, but you also reflect on the intrinsic conflicts that arise in the formation of a human control over an ultimately God controlled dogma.

For these reasons I recommend this book. It isn't going to tell you why Mormons always build their churches right next to high schools or why they baptize people after they are dead but it will make you think about religion and faith in general - and books that make you reflect about your own beliefs rather than illuminate differences between people and reinforce stereotypes always rise to the top in my book.

I'll be back before next month - promise.