Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

In a nightmarish ruined world slowly awakening to the light after sleeping in darkness, the infant rediscoveries of science are secretly nourished by cloistered monks dedicated to the study and preservation of the relics and writings of the blessed Saint Isaac Leibowitz. From here the story spans centuries of ignorance, violence, and barbarism, viewing through a sharp, satirical eye the relentless progression of a human race damned by its inherent humanness to recelebrate its grand foibles and repeat its grievous mistakes.

This is one I've wanted to read for a while now. It looks like a really interesting post-apocalyptic story.
I can't wait to see what "The Sacred Shopping List" is all about. :)

You're in for a treat, everyone!

Can it really be 3 years since we read this?

Where did the time go?

It went in pandemics and wars and things like that .....

I just started it yesterday. I’m also reading it for our March sci-fi book club at our public library. So, I have until March 19 to finish it!

I'm almost through the first part. It seems to be really just getting started.

I will be joining you for this as I missed it last time. I can’t believe I’ve been a part of this group for three years plus! I’ve heard great things about it and will be starting in a week or so.

Great, It's interesting so fa and not even that much has happened.

Miller creates some memorable characters in this book.

I just finished Part I. It was excellent!

Pam wrote: "I just finished Part I. It was excellent!"

It's my favourite!

It's funny how each part ends with the buzzards.

Does anybody know what "AOL" means in this book?

Where does AOL appear?

AOL is in chapter 7. It stands for Albertian Order of Leibowitz.

Thanks, Pam.

Thanks. It appears several times.
Reading this I wish I understood Latin. You can get a little if you've studied a romance language but still plenty of things I don't understand.

Let me know if you need any Latin translated, Book Nerd. I took it for four years in high school.

Part 1 Fiat Homo: Let there be man

Part 2 Fiat Lux: Let there be light

Part 3 Fiat Voluntas Tua: Let thy will be done

Thanks. I was meaning to look those up.
There's a lot of Latin throughout the book.

Just let me know when you need help with Latin, Jason.

I’ve just started part 2. I’ve got to find some dedicated reading time though! I’m splitting my time between 2 books. I like this book more than I expected to. I think I will have to skim through it after finishing it, to refresh my memory and see what I possibly missed. It’s really well written.

It is really well written.

What did everybody think of Rachel at the end?

I finished. My comments are mainly in my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Book Nerd wrote: "What did everybody think of Rachel at the end?"

SPOILERS
I presumed Rachel was some kind of religious figure. Because she was the result of a growth on the tomato lady's shoulder she was conceived without a sex act. At first I thought maybe she was like Mary, Christ's other. But the Immaculate Conception means that Mary was born without sin not that she was born without a sex act. Nor does it reflect that she conceived Jesus without a sex act. .
But Rachel being born without a sex act may mean that Miller intended her as a Christ-like figure. That view is enhanced by Abbot Z's baptizing her much as John the Baptist did to Christ. Rachel did seem to get more powerful after the baptism.
Based on that, Miller may have intended Rachel as an avenue of future hope. Or not.

Hmm, I think I'll count this as an Easter season appropriate read.

Brian E wrote: "Christ's other. But the Immaculate Conception means that Mary was born without sin not that she was born without a sex act. Nor does it reflect that she conceived Jesus without a sex act."
I don't understand what you mean. The story is that Jesus was conceived without a sex act. Mary wasn't.

Brian E wrote: "But Rachel being born without a sex act may mean that Miller intended her as a Christ-like figure. That view is enhanced by Abbot Z's baptizing her much as John the Baptist did to Christ. Rachel did seem to get more powerful after the baptism."
But Rachel stopped Abbot Z from baptizing her. Even Jesus was baptized so I'd say that Rachel was supposed to be born without original sin, that she's something more than human or maybe it means that original sin has finally been forgiven.

Book Nerd wrote: "Brian E wrote: "Christ's other. But the Immaculate Conception means that Mary was born without sin not that she was born without a sex act. Nor does it reflect that she conceived Jesus without a sex act."
I don't understand what you mean. The story is that Jesus was conceived without a sex act. Mary wasn't. ..."

I agree. That's what I was trying to say and did it poorly. I was just trying to explain what the Immaculate Conception did and did not mean since people have misconceptions.
The Immaculate Conception is a celebration of Mary. It has nothing to do with Jesus being conceived by Mary without a sex act. It refers to Mary herself being born without original sin. It is assumed that Mary was still conceived through a sex act but the doctrine doesn't really address this and just refers to her sinless state.
I was trying to assert this fairly simplistic proposition about whether Rachel was more like Jesus or Mary in response to your request about what we thought about Rachel :

Rachel was created without a sex act.
Mary was created with a sex act
Therefore Rachel is not like Mary

Rachel was created without a sex act.
Jesus was created without a sex act
Therefore Rachel is like Jesus.


Book Nerd wrote: " But Rachel stopped Abbot Z from baptizing her. .."

Yeah I got that wrong. I was stretching too much to add additional evidence in support for my "proposition" and should have left it as is.

Brian E wrote: "The Immaculate Conception is a celebration of Mary. It has nothing to do with Jesus being conceived by Mary without a sex act. It refers to Mary herself being born without original sin. It is assumed that Mary was still conceived through a sex act but the doctrine doesn't really address this and just refers to her sinless state."

That's interesting. Rachel was conceived without a sex act and without original sin so I guess she's both.