Third Quarter Outside Reading Book Review

90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper. Revell, 2004. Genre: Biography Novel

On the way home from a conference in Texas Don Piper’s car was hit by an 18-wheeler. When EMT’s arrived at the scene the pronounced him dead and that he was killed instantly. Don’s body was stuck in the crushed remains of his car so they had to cut him out with the Jaws of Life. While they were waiting for the jaws of life Don Piper was experiencing heaven. 90 minutes later he came back to life and shares his story.

“A friend handed me this book at about midnight, and come two or three in the morning, I was still reading. It’s a wonderful and inspiring story that brightens your perspective, giving you a sense of security, clarity, and warmth. - Donald Miller”

Don Piper’s 90 Minutes in heaven gave me a whole different perspective on religion and believing in heaven. The way he describes is the one place that is always happy, always peaceful, and always calm. The writing style was very descriptive and throughout the book he kept mentioning that he could not describe what he was seeing in human words. I haven’t read any other book like this before but I would like to because it was a great experience reading this one.

“As strange as it may seem, I could clearly distinguish each song. It sounded as if each hymn of praise was meant for me to hear as I moved inside the gates of heaven.” (pg.31)

Don Pipers story was a excellent read and I loved the story because not only was it good but it was a true story which really made me think. If there are other books out by this author then I would definitely read them because of what this man went through.

Commitment

Choices are made every day of our lives whether we should get a cup coffee this morning or a glass of juice. The decisions we make affect our lives. There are certain decisions that may betough and others that are tolerable to but you must make a decision and stick with it. I remember when I had to choose between a new phone or a dirt bike. I chose the dirt bike and it was the better choice for me because I love riding my dirt bike and turns out that the phone I wanted wasn’t even that good and they cam out with a new edition of that model the next week. In The Old Man and the Sea the main character Santiago faces tough and suspenseful decisions in which affected his life. He made a decision and he stuck by it. Unfortunately for him some of these decisions did not work out the way he planned.


One decision that Santiago decided to make was that he left the shore without the boy in his skiff. This was a bad decision because later on in the story he will acquire the boy’s help that he has offered him numerous times before he has left the shore. The boy seemed some what anxious to help the old man and disobey his parents. He was a devoted worker and never dishonest. He made this decision not for his gain but for the boys because he doesn’t want the boy to get in trouble with his parents and was wary about him coming to fish with Santiago. This shows how much the old man is compassionate about the boys well being. The consequences of this decision were that it took Santiago longer to reel in the fish and that there was a bigger chance of Santiago not reeling in the fish at all. “It is our choices that show who we truly are, far more than are abilities.”-Joanne Kathleen Rowling


Santiago choice of risking starvation and dehydration cost him his strength after he has caught the fish and planned to have a soothing ride home. This prevented him from fighting off the sharks that come to devour his fish. He cannot do this because he has wasted all the strength he had on catching this fish and none for after to go home or fight off enemies of the sea. This part of the story shows to always think ahead and prepare for the future. The old man is very talkative about his decisions to himsef. The old man did not prepare for the sharks so he focused all his energy on reeling up the fish. The man was intelligent when he used his oar and knife after losing his harpoon but did not prepare for after that. “ I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and love today.”-William Allen White


Santiago had a decision of letting this big fish go and deciding that it will be to hard to reel up and bring home. The old man is to amazed by its size and beauty that it will bring in a lot of money back home and he can’t even think about letting this thing go. He decided to keep trying to reel the fish in waste all this hard work and time that he put in to capture this beast of a marlin. Santiago was more sad than upset about losing the marlin to the sharks. The moral of this is that something you work at can easily be taken away and that you keep working through the good things and the bad. “Find a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.”-Confucius


Santiago made some wise choices throughout the story some beneficial and some not so much but he made a decision and stuck with it. Decisions are made everyday and you might not even know you made a decision but you did. You could just automatically do your homework when you get home but you decided to do it instead of watching T.V. For Example, in the old man and the sea Santiago had some easy decisions and some hard ones. Some of them won’t always be easy but when they are hard you must pick something and go with it.

The Game of Anxiety

It was mid April when the first day of the Masters began and Kevin couldn't believe how far he had come from being a little kid wishing to play in the masters to actually qualifying. He beat Tom Dowd to qualify for the masters and now has to focus on playing the first round even though he was a neophyte compared to the other professionals. The first day of the masters Kevin had trouble focusing because of the intense atmosphere. He wishes his dad was there to quell him but he could not make the first round due to a buiness trip. Seeing all the professionals distracted him from the task at hand. The only golfer that he had not seen was the one he lionized the most. Ben Hogan.

After three days of golf Kevin was 2 behind the lead at 15 under. Ben Hogan and Arnold Palmer were tied for the lead at 17 under. Today was the final round to go for the green jacket. Ben Hogan had already finished the front nine and so had Arnold Palmer. Ben was at 3 under for the day and Arnold Palmer was even for the day. Kevin was just finishing the 9th hole that was a par 5 and he pared it. Kevin finished the front nine at 2 under which would put him in second place so far. After finishing Ben Hogan ended up finishing his round at 3 under and Kevin finished at 5 under by sinking a 34 foot putt for birdie on 18 which would put him and Ben Hogan into a sudden death playoff for the green jacket. The crowd was ecstatic after he made that putt but he tried to rebuff them as he talked with his caddie. "Good putt kevin that was a big one", his caddie Eric said. On his way to the scores table Ben hogan came over to him and said," That was a nice putt over there on 18."" Thanks Mr.Hogan. Looks like I'll being playing against you tomorrow." Kevin stated. "It appears so. Well I wish you good luck for it should be a good fight," Ben said to him. Kevin felt a little less nervous after hearing Ben's benediction. 

It was raining all last night and went into the next morning so the course was going to be wet. When Ben and Kevin met at the first tee at 8 in the morning. Ben Hogan was selected to tee off first. Kevin had to quiet his loquacious caddie while ben was hitting. "Eric shut up! his hitting"' said kevin in a angry whisper. Ben Hogan was a three time champion at the masters and Kevin had never been in the masters before. They were matching each other shot for shot no one was pulling ahead or behind. When they came upon the 11^th hole which was a 190-yard par 3. Kevin decided to hit a 3 iron, which put him 20 feet away from the hole. Ben Hogan hit the same club and was 15 feet away from the hole. Kevin was up first to hit since he was farthest away from the hole. "It looks likes its left to right but whatever you do don't leave it short" Eric said. After finally concuring with Eric, Kevin steps up to the putt and strokes the ball. The crowd is hushed as they slowly watch the ball roll towards the hole and wait for the ‘clunk’ of the ball hitting the cup. Kevin is ecstatic and is now 3 under and leaves Ben Hogan to make his putt to stay tied with Kevin. Ben just misses his putt to the leave of the cup to put Kevin at a one shot lead.

Later on at the 17^th hole which is a par 5. Ben Hogan drives his shot 260 yards. Eric says to Kevin"Alright, Your in the lead. Just relax and hit the ball.  Ben Hogan then hits his next shot on the green for a lengthy eagle putt and Kevin plays it safe and lays up just short of the green.  He asks Eric for the loft wedge and puts it to 5 feet for a birdie opportunity. Ben lets him finish his putt so his ball marker isn’t in the way. He now has to make this putt to become tied with Kevin again going into the 18^th hole. After stroking the ball Kevin is thinking that it has no chance but for some reason the ball just kept rolling and the sound of the ball hitting the cup ended the crowds laconic state. Going into the 18^th hole they were tied at 4 under par. Kevin was first to tee off and now has trepidation running through his mind. Hogan hit his driver about 10 yards farther.Ben's clubs were vapid and used compared to Kevin's new driver he recently purchased. Ben’s approach shot was on the green but yet again another lengthy putt. Kevin’s approach shot was about a 20 footer for birdie. Ben had to putt first and he spent a good amount of time looking at this putt. All you could hear was the whispering of Ben and Kevin talking to their caddies. He finally stepped up to it and hit that ball with the smoothest looking stroke Kevin have ever witnessed. Putting requires a lot of dexterity. The ball was heading right for the hole and it was dead on but it started to slow down a little earlier then he expected and stopped 10 inches short of the hole. The crowd sighed and was in shock that he missed that putt but he tapped the ball in and they started to applaud him for finishing 4 under on the day. Kevin had his putt left and was the biggest putt of his life. There was now a myraid of people surrounding the green. He spent about 30 minutes looking at this putt from every angle. Eric was trying to give him an assuaging pep talk but it wouldn't stop Kevin's hands from shaking. He stepped up and stroked the ball towards and the whole and the crowd was just starring at that ball which was headed straight for the hole. He started to walk towards the hole and once he saw that ball drop he jumped in the air as high as he could jump. This would surely be the apex of his career. “Kevin Garbacik, a Cinderella story, has just won the Masters ladies and Gentlemen.” The announcer screamed. The crowd was going wanton and was rushing on to the green. They all thought Kevin was a paragon of golf. They were chanting his name. 

After the round of golf Ben Hogan and the head of the master association holding the trophy and the green jacket. Now it is a tradition that the previous winner of the Masters would give the new winner the green jacket. The previous winner just happened to be Ben Hogan. Kevin walked up too Ben and as he congratulated him he put on his own green jacket.” The one player that no ever thought of winning has done the impossible today Ladies and Gentlemen”, stated the announcer.

2nd Quarter ORB Reveiw

The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger. W. W. Norton & Company, 1997. Genre: Nonfiction

 

The Perfect Strom takes place in Gloucester, Massachusetts were sword fishing was a popular occupation. Billy Tyne the captain of the Andrea Gail, his fishing vessel, goes out on a voyage with his crew to bring home a big catch after his recent miss. But with big catches comes big dangers. As it shows in the weather he would be sailing into a hurricane otherwise known as “The Perfect Storm of 1991.”

 

“During the long drawn-out and wholly convincing climaxes one reads with the most intense concern, anxiety and concentration; and if one knows anything at all about the sea one feels the absolutely enormous strength of the hurricane winds and the incredibly towering mass of the hundred-foot waves.”-Patrick O’Brian

 

Captain Billy Tyne is heading towards the Flemish Cap, which is almost of the chart of fishing grounds, but he believes that where the fish are. The crew and all the other fishermen think he’s crazy to go out there but the crew needs the money if he’s right s they agree to go on this journey with him. After a couple of days they’ve been having some bad luck with Murph going overboard and a rogue wave hitting the boat the crew is thinking of turning around and heading home. But Billy wants to keep going to find the fish. Sebastian Junger writers in a very suspenseful way and in a lot of ways I find that he leads up to a lot of stuff in his writing.

This book reminds me of another book I read about fishermen. They have a very ruff live and they go out on the ocean for 3 months at a time away from their friends and family. They also never have control over the sea so anything could happen out there.

 

“All chemical reactions and metabolic processes become honey-slow and the brain can get by on less than half the oxygen it normally requires.”(146)

 

Sebastian Junger really reminded me about how these fishermen risk their lives so we can eat seafood. I think after reading this book I have more respect for these fishermen. I liked this book because it always kept me guessing and never got boring in my mind. I enjoyed the fact he didn’t just put a bunch of facts together but actually made a story of it. I think the theme of this book is that if you don’t take risks than life will pass you by. He is saying to live as much as you can now and not to regret it later.