“If the end of the universe was present in its beginning - if we are merely in the middle of the deterministic unfolding of a set of initial conditions - then the universe would be a pointless exercise.
“If you're at your destination, why make the journey? If you know the answer, why ask the question? That is why the future is - and must be - profoundly hidden, even from God. Otherwise, life would have no meaning.”
-- God
God would seem to be less than omniscient. Which is a seductive notion, if less than wholly reassuring. But then if you are willing to believe at all, it is easy to appreciate that there is something less than perfect going on there anyway.
I'm glad I kept this novel in mind. It had been a long time since I've been so absorbed in a thriller. I had to stop in the middle of my afternoon reading today, because the chapter was so climactic that I just had to let my brain cells settle down and rest, and I didn't want to ruin the experience by immediately proceeding with a blah chapter. I even did a couple of chores, which is close to torture for me, to let the novel simmer down.
It occurs to me that it probably helps not to read too many novels, so that the suspension of disbelief can return greater dividends. Relegating novels to the weekends probably isn't enough, either, which is what I was planning on doing. I'm going to have to keep rotating in some easy biographies and books on current politics if only to keep the novels fresh. That way one can enjoy the roller-coaster rides better.
“If you're at your destination, why make the journey? If you know the answer, why ask the question? That is why the future is - and must be - profoundly hidden, even from God. Otherwise, life would have no meaning.”
-- God
God would seem to be less than omniscient. Which is a seductive notion, if less than wholly reassuring. But then if you are willing to believe at all, it is easy to appreciate that there is something less than perfect going on there anyway.
I'm glad I kept this novel in mind. It had been a long time since I've been so absorbed in a thriller. I had to stop in the middle of my afternoon reading today, because the chapter was so climactic that I just had to let my brain cells settle down and rest, and I didn't want to ruin the experience by immediately proceeding with a blah chapter. I even did a couple of chores, which is close to torture for me, to let the novel simmer down.
It occurs to me that it probably helps not to read too many novels, so that the suspension of disbelief can return greater dividends. Relegating novels to the weekends probably isn't enough, either, which is what I was planning on doing. I'm going to have to keep rotating in some easy biographies and books on current politics if only to keep the novels fresh. That way one can enjoy the roller-coaster rides better.