The Great Divorce in C. S. Lewis

Sep 11, 2008 Zinta rated it it was amazing

With each and every book I read by C.S. Lewis, I become an ever more admiring fan. While I cannot say this is my favorite of his works (for that spot, I reserve "Mere Christianity," followed by "A Grief Observed"), it is as fascinating and insightful a ride as any of his. C. S. Lewis is exceptional in his ability to take the most complicated human issues and make them understandable.

Blending into a queu awaiting a bus ride without fully understanding to where or why (how many of us blend sheepi With each and every book I read by C.S. Lewis, I become an ever more admiring fan. While I cannot say this is my favorite of his works (for that spot, I reserve "Mere Christianity," followed by "A Grief Observed"), it is as fascinating and insightful a ride as any of his. C. S. Lewis is exceptional in his ability to take the most complicated human issues and make them understandable.

Blending into a queu awaiting a bus ride without fully understanding to where or why (how many of us blend sheepishly with the masses this way?), the narrator, George, takes a fantastical ride through heaven and hell. Just two possible end points on this trip, and with that, Lewis makes it clear: as much as we try to rationalize and wiggle, there is no gray area in life, or, in this case, the after life. You choose. Black or white, good or evil.

With a cast of colorful characters, ghostly figures and helpful angels who only wish to give the undecided one final chance to decide, we ride along with those who, we soon realize, resemble everyone we know. Including you and me. The whiner and the complainer, the cheater and the liar, the rationalizer, the egotist, the shortchanger. Even the overly devoted mother, who, upon closer examination, clings to her son more to serve her own selfish needs than to let him go in a loving manner for his wellbeing is not the marytr she believes herself to be.

It is not in the big falls that we lose our way to heaven. It is, more often than not, in the petty details of our lives, all those grand intentions come to nothing, all those shortcomings and shortcuts taken, all those more challenging routes avoided, where we take wrong turns that will land us only in hell. A stern Father reminds us, "Your will be done," rather than His. And so, for all who did not trust in Him, but stubbornly held to their own willful ways, the bus has only one last stop.

As amusing as this little tale (novella) is to read, the message is heavy duty. If you don't recognize yourself in at least a few of these lost souls, look harder. And then give your future bus stop some careful thought... ...more

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Feb 28, 2008 Angela rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: educational-fiction, wishlist, religion

Interesting, but certainly not my favorite of his works. It felt rather dismal and sad most of the time. I guess the point was to illustrate what kinds of things people cling to, which hold them back from heaven; but, I kind of wished there was a balance of happy reunions and positive choices, too. Based merely on my initial experience reading it, I would have just given it three stars, but I have found myself thinking about it quite a bit since then which, I believe, merits a more positive rati ...more

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Feb 22, 2008 David Pendergraft rated it it was amazing

Another great C.S. Lewis story. The fictional break between heaven and hell that gives you insight to the problems and dilemmas we face. This book shares the thoughts on the purity of heaven and our selfish Earthly sins we are unable to break. Really thought provoking.

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Apr 29, 2008 Stan rated it really liked it

Shelves: spirituality

Beautiful story about how we can get out of "hell" and start on a path to "heaven." Based on a fictional dream. Includes interesting reference to George Macdonald and a very beautiful description of a man choosing to give up a sin he has long cherished. ...more

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Jun 13, 2008 Filip rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: the-dusty-shelf

I simply love to read some of the details Lewis puts on angels and spirits and how it could all look like. Love to think outside the box? Then you must read this!

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