What are you currently reading?

[Iota]

I'm reading this book slowly but wow, what a book. ... Incredible writing.

+1

[Papy Oli]

Well, someone had to bring the general serious tone of that thread down

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Thanks for the warning. I think I've learnt a bit about how mitochondria and cells work from the first section (which is what I was after), not so much from the second about various diseases, will be careful with the last bit about recommendations.

I will get a copy.

[vers la flamme]

I liked the subtle nuances in the movie, and the book is on my list.  It seems to me that all the reviews I read are very positive. For instance, the Guardian offers very enthusiastic review:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2016/jan/07/the-remains-of-the-day-by-kazuo-ishiguro-book-to-share

Having finished the novel yesterday afternoon, I share this critic's enthusiasm. I've definitely recommended it already to several friends. What a heartbreaking, amazingly written story. I'm excited for you to read it. I made my girlfriend watch the movie with me last night and we both enjoyed it (as you say, the subtle nuance was at times captivating - what a performance from all actors involved), though I must say the book was much, much better for its sense of inner monologue throughout. Now that I've read both The Remains of the Day and An Artist of the Floating World, I'm hooked, and I just might go out and buy another of Ishiguro's books today, though I'm not sure which to read next.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Silence, Shusaku Endo.
A 17th century Jesuit missionary's quest for truth in Japan, where Christianity was strictly prohibited.
The protagonist faces a dillemma-  unless he publicly renounces Christianity, his followers would be executed by the government.

[Iota]

Having finished the novel yesterday afternoon, I share this critic's enthusiasm. I've definitely recommended it already to several friends. What a heartbreaking, amazingly written story. I'm excited for you to read it. I made my girlfriend watch the movie with me last night and we both enjoyed it (as you say, the subtle nuance was at times captivating - what a performance from all actors involved), though I must say the book was much, much better for its sense of inner monologue throughout. Now that I've read both The Remains of the Day and An Artist of the Floating World, I'm hooked, and I just might go out and buy another of Ishiguro's books today, though I'm not sure which to read next.

I agree, good as the film is, it doesn't approach the intimacy created by the book's extraordinary prose, which for me is on another level.

I've read three other Ishiguro books, The Unconsoled, Never Let Me Go and When We Were Orphans. The Unconsoled is a rare and unforgettable novel, one of my favourites. Never Let Me Go is as usual brilliantly written, though I found it somewhat depressing and harrowing at times. And When We Were Orphans I found somewhat confusing and the least engaging.

For all of these, it's well over a decade since I read them last, but the first two certainly, have left very vivid impressions.

[Florestan]

Silence, Shusaku Endo.
A 17th century Jesuit missionary's quest for truth in Japan, where Christianity was strictly prohibited.
The protagonist faces a dillemma-  unless he publicly renounces Christianity, his followers would be executed by the government.

As a convinced but not devout Orthodox Christian, I have a hard time solving this dilemma. 

[Mandryka]

Silence, Shusaku Endo.
A 17th century Jesuit missionary's quest for truth in Japan, where Christianity was strictly prohibited.
The protagonist faces a dillemma-  unless he publicly renounces Christianity, his followers would be executed by the government.

Easy peasy. Renounce.

[Florestan]

Easy peasy. Renounce.

Renounce what?

[Mandryka]

Renounce what?

I dunno. Whatever it was he needed to renounce in order to save the lives.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Easy peasy. Renounce.

I assume, you indicate that he should "pretend" to renounce Christianity while he could keep his belief inside. That's what the local govt suggested to him.

[Florestan]

I dunno. Whatever it was he needed to renounce in order to save the lives.

Easy to talk the talk for a non-Christian.

For a genuine Christian the dilemma is indeed a tough nut to crack. Trust me, my friend, it really is.

[Florestan]

I assume, you indicate that he should "pretend" to renounce Christianity while he could keep his belief inside. That's what the local govt suggested to him.

And that's exactly what a genuine Christian cannot do in full conscience.  I really don't know what I would have done.

That's why I like living in a democracy, albeit an imperfect one: I wouldn't wish anyone to be put on such trial. Let anyone believe (in) whatever they wish.

[Mandryka]

Easy to talk the talk for a non-Christian.

For a genuine Christian the dilemma is indeed a tough nut to crack. Trust me, my friend, it really is.

I'm sorry it seems just clear to me that, although the genuine Christian does not want to renounce, he would surely see that it is right to save the lives.

In fact, something else may be true. The only Christian thing for him to do is to renounce. (Not sure about that - what would Jesus have done?)

As an exercise, scale it up. The evil dictator will press the button to nuke America if you don't renounce. Maybe destroy the whole world. The logic is the same.

[Florestan]

I'm sorry it seems just clear to me that, although the Christian does not want to renounce, he would surely see that it is right to save the lives.

If that were the one and only right reaction, Christianity would have never achieved its current status.

There are a whole lot of Christian saints and martyrs who preferred rather to be killed than abjure their faith.

[Mandryka]

If that were the one and only right reaction, Christianity would have never achieved its current status.

There are a whole lot of Christian saints and martyrs who preferred rather to be killed than abjure their faith.

That's not the same, in this case there are other people who will lose their lives.

[Florestan]

what would Jesus have done?

Nobody knows. Jesus did, taught, and suggested, many things which were apparently contrary to the Law.

As an exercise, scale it up. The evil dictator will press the button to nuke America if you don't renounce. Maybe destroy the whole world. The logic is the same.

Thank God and America be praised, there's nobody facing such an alternative.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Amen!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

And that's exactly what a genuine Christian cannot do in full conscience.  I really don't know what I would have done.

Yes, the end-justifies-means deception could exacerbate, rather than solve, the dilemma.  Very difficult and agonizing situation.

[Florestan]

Yes, the end-justifies-means deception could exacerbate, rather than solve, the dilemma.

Precisely.

I really, really don't know what I'd have done. The dilemma might seem as a merely theorical one, but back then it was only too real and life-threatening.

[AlberichUndHagen]

I believe this same dilemma was discussed in The Brothers Karamazov, and this is one of the reasons I nowadays dislike that book. Smerdyakov is depicted as being wrong about arguing renouncing one's faith in ridiculous circumstances is more than justified even though the rational thing in such a case as presented would be to renounce it. As bad as Smerdyakov was, I felt more sympathy for him than that hypocrite Alyosha. At least Smerdyakov was rational. Alyosha is a classic example of creating a character intended to be selfless yet only thing Dostoyevsky managed to create was male version of Katerina Ivanovna.

Edit: I actually think renouncing one's faith, whatever it happens to be, is justified in all circumstances.