The Rig Veda (Penguin Classics)

One of the oldest sacred texts in the world, it was very interesting to see a glimpse of ancient Indian culture, as well as the mythological foundation of much of the Western world-for example, Indra, king of the gods, has many of the same qualities/abilities as the Greek Zeus, and the name of Varuna the sky god of order is a cognate of Ouranos (Uranus). The descriptions of ritual and stories of the gods were most interesting (sooo many cows!) I was looking forward to the chapter on women, until I read the introduction: "The Rig Veda is a text written by men, for men, about men". Oh... Oh no. Yes, it was as bad as it sounds, and so crude! *disappointed, but not surprised*

352 pages

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Shadow spent three years in prison, and all he wants is to get back to his wife and stay out of trouble for the rest of his life. But the week before he is scheduled to be released, his wife is killed in an accident.  He is released early to attend the funeral.  On the plane ride home, he sits next to a Mr. Wednesday, who offers him a job. Shadow accepts.

It turns out that Wednesday is an old god who is roaming America rounding up other old gods, preparing for an epic battle against the "gods of credit card and freeway, of Internet and telephone, of radio and hospital and television, gods of plastic and of beeper and of neon." The old gods are trying to live peaceably in retirement, disguised as ordinary people.

Shadow agrees to help, and he travels through America, discovering all the myths Americans brought with them in their journeys to this land as well as the ones that were already here. He encounters dangerous characters, distinctly American foods and diversions, bizarre roadside attractions, and decrepit gods reduced to shell games and prostitution. "This is a bad land for Gods," says Shadow. At last Shadow must reevaluate his own deeply held beliefs in order to determine his crucial role in the final showdown.

This is a typical Gaiman fantasy, but offers a profound perspective on the soul and spirituality of this country-our obsessions with money and power, our jumbled religious heritage and its societal outcomes, and the decisions we face about what's real and what's not.

 
624 pages

Soul Keeping: Caring For the Most Important Part of You by John Ortberg

John Ortberg returns with another book on how to deepen your spiritual life. This time, he looks at how to keep your soul healthy so you can stay in tune with the will of God. Some comments, such as being too busy can be a soul-drainer, were helpful.
208 pages.