Have you ever heard of Jonathan Livingston Seagull?

Isn't he married to "Sweet Caroline"?

Is this supposed to be a joke or is there a real person of that name?[/img]

Of course. It was a craze in about 1999, everyone was nagged to read it. I never really got into it.

What do you think of it?

I was presuming you meant the New Age book by Richard Bach.

[en.wikipedia.org]

I think it really captured what was going on in the 1970's and it makes sense that it is still a classic and widely available book. Individualism, striving to improve, to transcend, to move away from the organized "flock"... I was hoping to hear what others thought of the book and what about society today makes it still relevant.

Yes, it's a really good book. They also made a movie out of it, which I happen to have on VHS. The movie is not as good as the book, in my opinion.

Do you have a specific question about it?

Just interested in random thoughts people may have about the themes raised in the book. Does it speak to relationship of organized religion and individualism or am I just reading too much into it?

Seagull, Celestine Prophecy, The Alchemist...perhaps I would have enjoyed them more with pictures. You'll find them in the 'light and fluffy' reading section of your local bookstore or library.

Perhaps, they're just too spiritual for me. I don't mind all the self-improvement themes (the constant repetition), but they tend to lay it on pretty thick. So thick that the characters are buried in sentimental hyperbole...

It sells well, so who am I to disagree. :wink:

It was a GREAT book written in the 70's about a Seagull that didn't want to be boxed in by the traditional fundamentalist beliefs of his flock.

What a great story for today.

I remember reading that book a long time ago when I was home sick. Ill from a flu or ill from the stress of the cult I was stuck in-I wasn't sure.

I stayed in bed all day and picked up that book for the first time and read it thru. It was my mom's book. She had it sitting around for along time. I recall that it gave me an escape for a day from my horrid reality at the time. I rather enjoyed the book. I was really depressed that day, and found it uplifting and inspiring.

FF