Three and a half stars is probably more accurate, but the language was beautiful enough to elevate the score. We received this book as a wedding preseThree and a half stars is probably more accurate, but the language was beautiful enough to elevate the score. We received this book as a wedding present, and I savored the wisdom in it--while recognizing that much of the beautiful language was lacking in substance. I can see why the book was so popular during the hippie movement; there is a strong undercurrent of "do what feels good" running throughout, and God loves everyone and we're all God and bro, have another smoke, etc. And yet I feel badly for mocking it because there WAS wisdom in it too. Perhaps younger Stephanie would have been more deeply affected.
In spite of my four stars, I would say that this lovely book had very little impact on me....more
Dangit, MacDonald, I keep trying to like you! Why do you make it so hard? I dislike allegory, but I particularly dislike allegory that is nonsensicalDangit, MacDonald, I keep trying to like you! Why do you make it so hard? I dislike allegory, but I particularly dislike allegory that is nonsensical as a STORY, which is after all the vehicle you are using to convey your allegory. This book is obviously very, VERY similar to Voyage to Arcturus, another allegory I despised in spite of best efforts to love it since Lewis thought so highly of it. Though I suppose Lilith bears even more of the blame for Arcturus, since it came out first. ...more
A rough read, due to content, not lack of skill. I understand the necessity of being informed about Christian persecution--I am a Christian and must cA rough read, due to content, not lack of skill. I understand the necessity of being informed about Christian persecution--I am a Christian and must care for my Christian brothers and sisters--but too much of literature like this doesn't inspire me to help, it just inspires me to step away, like accidentally dropping a hot plate because your reflex is faster than the thought to set it down safely. I support Voice of the Martyrs (the organization Wurmbrand started) every month, but I can't read their newsletters every month....more
Because I was remarkably ignorant (for a Christian) of the story, I read Heroes of the Faith: Jim Elliot by Susan Martins Miller after receiving it asBecause I was remarkably ignorant (for a Christian) of the story, I read Heroes of the Faith: Jim Elliot by Susan Martins Miller after receiving it as a gift from my boyfriend.
SO. FRUSTRATING. Reading about Jim Elliot was almost painful—not because of what happened to him, but because of what an insufferable jerk he was for most of his life. I wanted to smack him the entire time. I also have mixed feelings about foreign missions anyway, and this brought all of those conflicting ideas to the fore: as the author hinted, the tragedy might have been prevented if more time had been spent in preparation, linguistic study, and less risky forms of outreach before going out to meet the Auca personally. I still gave the book three stars because the author did a good job of relating the story and of being fairly objective....more
This book came highly recommended by a lover of Arthurian lit, so I confess I was expecting more Arthuriana and less...Chopra. I found myself enthrallThis book came highly recommended by a lover of Arthurian lit, so I confess I was expecting more Arthuriana and less...Chopra. I found myself enthralled by portions and frustrated by all the spiritualism cluttering up what I was really interested in: the Arthur story. In the end, in spite of the intriguing beginning, I felt as though a kid had smashed the toy car of Arthurian legend into the toy car of New Ageism and had left a messy pile of small wheels and twisted metal incoherence on the rug. Three stars for the occasionally heart-stoppingly beautiful language, though. ...more
In His Steps by Thomas Nelson Publishers is a comic book retelling of the famous book by Charles Sheldon, which I’ve actually never read. I’m okay witIn His Steps by Thomas Nelson Publishers is a comic book retelling of the famous book by Charles Sheldon, which I’ve actually never read. I’m okay with that, though--I feel like I have the gist of the book from reading this comic version. I liked the idea behind the book/comic, but it didn’t particular impact me in the way they were going for, I think. I’m glad I read it and I do value the concept, but the execution was just average....more
I’d never read The Man Who Was Thursday: when we all decided to go see the play, I had to uphold my read-the-book-first rule, so I breezed through itI’d never read The Man Who Was Thursday: when we all decided to go see the play, I had to uphold my read-the-book-first rule, so I breezed through it in a couple of days. I do like G.K., but for some reason I kept having to convince myself of it with this book. I really did like it, I promise, but somehow I ended up feeling just a little bit dissatisfied and disappointed, for reasons that aren’t entirely clear to me. The farther I get from it, the more I appreciate it, so I’ll probably love it in a few more days. My problems with the book are all spoilery, so look below only if you dare…
My issues were mainly with the ending…allegory?…for lack of a better term. It all wrapped up so quickly, I thought I had a whole chapter left to go (I was reading it on Project Gutenberg and there was still a good bit to scroll on the page) and was surprised to find I had reached the end. I liked the twisty reveals at the end, but I thought they needed more justification or explanation as to how it fit into the universe, metaphorically speaking. I was looking for deeper meanings in some of Sunday’s seemingly random actions, and I’m not sure they were there.
I was also irked by the way the author renumbered the days of the week. G.K. says the days are “reckoned from the Christian Sunday,” even as Symes reads from Genesis. I understand that Chesterton wanted to end up with God=Sunday at the end, but this just rankled, taking the entire Old Testament tradition (and, let’s be honest, the New Testament tradition too) of the Sabbath day being the seventh day, Saturday, and chucking it because it didn’t fit with his Catholic doctrine. The idea of a Sunday Sabbath wasn’t widespread until the second century, long after the canonical Bible was written. The terms don’t even make sense: the English word “Sabbath” is derived from Latin “sabbatum” from Greek “sabbaton,” both used literally in their respective cultures to mean the seventh day of the week. This word was in turn derived from Hebrew “shabbat,” meaning “cease from work.” So if you say “Sunday Sabbath,” you’re literally saying “Sunday Saturday.” You can still see this clearly in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian, in which Sabado/Sabato is the word for Saturday (as well as in the roughly 20 other languages that also derive their words for Saturday from shabbat). *tucks away that particular soapbox* Anyway, not a major plot point, but I suspect it factored into my initial disappointment....more
I read far too much Holocaust literature a few years ago and realized I needed a break, so I put off reading Dawn until just now. It’s not, strictly sI read far too much Holocaust literature a few years ago and realized I needed a break, so I put off reading Dawn until just now. It’s not, strictly speaking, Holocaust lit…and yet it is, in a way, since the events of the Holocaust shape those in the book. It’s an intense look at morality–I’m glad I didn’t read it till now, when I’m able to appreciate it more, but I simultaneously feel that Night was by far the superior work....more
I read A Celtic Miscellany recently, which is a collection of Welsh, Irish and Scottish Gaelic, Cornish, Breton, and Manx poetry and prose selected anI read A Celtic Miscellany recently, which is a collection of Welsh, Irish and Scottish Gaelic, Cornish, Breton, and Manx poetry and prose selected and translated by Kenneth Hurlstone Jackson. It’s aptly named; this collection is definitely a hodgepodge. Some of it is brilliant:
"I shall not go to my bed tonight, my love is not in it; I shall lie on the gravestone–break, if you must, my poor heart. There is nothing between him and me tonight but earth and coffin and shroud; I have been further many a time, but never with a heavier heart."–Welsh; traditional verses; seventeenth century?
Some of it is wryly entertaining:
"The world has laid low, and the wind blows away like ashes Alexander, Caesar, and all who were in their trust; grass-grown is Tara, and see Troy now how it is–and the English themselves, perhaps they too will pass!"–Irish; author unknown; seventeenth-eighteenth century.
Granted, some of it is dull too, and I was disappointed that so many of the selections were fairly modern (sixteenth through eighteenth centuries) when I was hoping for more of the older, harder-to-find Celtic poetry of the first thousand years AD. Some of the excerpts seemed to leave off in odd spots. Overall, though, I enjoyed the somewhat random assembly of stories and poetry....more
I finished Confessions this week, and I realized I gave both it and Zorba two stars, though two such different books have probably never shared shelfI finished Confessions this week, and I realized I gave both it and Zorba two stars, though two such different books have probably never shared shelf space. Two stars is probably terribly unfair; Confessions is undeniably of far better quality than that. But I personally disliked it too much to do it credit, I’m afraid. I still have a hard time pinpointing the cause of my dissatisfaction. It wasn’t because it was deeply personal, or because I disagreed with so much of his theology, or because it was rather dry ancient literature: all of those things are true, but they’re also true of other books I read and enjoyed. I did have an easier time with the last three of the thirteen books, for some reason; maybe I was finally getting used to him after all, or maybe I just liked him better when he was building an argument for something instead of…well…confessing so much. I think probably the repeated statements of his own unworthiness and God’s greatness are what bothered me; I have a terrible time focusing during these sorts of things. To me they often feel repetitive, boring, and meaningless. A fact may be perfectly true, but if you repeat it enough times, it starts to lose its significance....more
Our philosophy group is back in action, and we’re reading The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton. I’ve been meaning to read Chesterton for ages and agOur philosophy group is back in action, and we’re reading The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton. I’ve been meaning to read Chesterton for ages and ages and somehow never quite got around to reading a single word of his until now. Of course, now I’m kicking myself for not getting to him sooner. He’s brilliant, and his work is engendering great discussion. I can see why Lewis found him so compelling; he lays his arguments out in a very Lewisian style, though Chesterton is more prone to making less-substantiated claims than the more cautious Lewis. I would love to get the two of them in a room and just listen to whatever they had to say to each other....more
Speaking of gentlemen of whom I am in awe, I read Miracles by C.S. Lewis; I am newly agog at his brilliantly ordered thought processes every time I reSpeaking of gentlemen of whom I am in awe, I read Miracles by C.S. Lewis; I am newly agog at his brilliantly ordered thought processes every time I read one of his books. His abilities of ratiocination (and his ability to carry you along with him through his reasoning) are truly impressive, not to mention incredibly useful for one’s spiritual growth. ...more
Last week our philosophy discussion group read a portion of Hegel’s Philosophy of History. I had never read any Hegel before, but I think maybe I likeLast week our philosophy discussion group read a portion of Hegel’s Philosophy of History. I had never read any Hegel before, but I think maybe I like him. His prolixity is dismaying, and Bertrand Russell calls him one of the most difficult to understand philosophers, but I found quite a few of his points fascinating. His analogies help tremendously; I was lost until he threw in one of those. Someday, if I’m feeling very, very ambitious, I’d like to try reading some more of his works. I didn't read all of this one, so I don't think it's fair to give it a star rating.
We’re reading Pilgrim’s Regress by C.S. Lewis this week for our philosophy group. I’ve read Pilgrim’s Progress, of course, but wasn’t terribly impressWe’re reading Pilgrim’s Regress by C.S. Lewis this week for our philosophy group. I’ve read Pilgrim’s Progress, of course, but wasn’t terribly impressed; I know it’s a classic, but something about that book just rubs me the wrong way. I was baffled by the passage in Little Women where the girls talk about loving to read it because it was such an adventure story. I wondered if maybe I was reading the wrong book, since Pilgrim’s Progress invariably puts me into a coma, and this coming from the girl who usually enjoys some pretty dry reading. I’m not a tremendous fan of allegory, which is part of the problem, but I also found it unhelpful in terms of Christian instruction. Pilgrim’s Regress, on the other hand, is both fascinating and useful so far—unsurprisingly, since it’s Lewis. The story is allegorical and told in much the same way as Pilgrim’s Progress, but it is a generalized account of Lewis’s own progress in Christianity. His preface to my edition apologizes for the individualized journey, which he thought was more typical of other Christians’ struggles. He says that he realized much later that his was an unusual process, but to me it still seems extremely relatable. More on this later, I suspect.
Update: On Monday we’re discussing the second half of Pilgrim’s Regress, which I enjoyed reading and admired even more than the first. I found Superbia to be the most genuinely disturbing character in the book; that’s quite a visual, there (and one which I will not spoil for those of you who haven’t read it). A lot of Lewis’s points make me squirm; he holds a mirror up to me and makes me look at myself more honestly. He’s enjoyable medicine, though, and I love reading his works.
My philosophy discussion group is tackling the Bhagavad Gita this week, about which I knew very little until a few days ago. I did know the famous quoMy philosophy discussion group is tackling the Bhagavad Gita this week, about which I knew very little until a few days ago. I did know the famous quote that Oppenheimer was reminded of when seeing the first nuclear explosion test: “I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.” Turns out another translation (and the one favored by the Gutenberg Project translation I was reading) is “I am Time, the destroyer of all things.” Certainly puts a different spin on it. The religious texts of other cultures intrigue me (I’ve always meant to read the Q’uran), and the Gita was no exception. We had some excellent discussion about it last night....more
I find that reading books about plane crashes while physically in a plane really enhances the flying experience. I told my mother that and she thoughtI find that reading books about plane crashes while physically in a plane really enhances the flying experience. I told my mother that and she thought I was being facetious, but I was just being honest. I read Night Flight by Antoine de Saint-Exupery (author of The Little Prince) on the way to Michigan and Wind, Sand, and Stars by the same author on the way back, both of which include plane disasters. Both were exquisite, though not at all in the same way as The Little Prince, and both are about Saint-Exupery’s experiences as a pilot for the night-mails in South America and Africa during the 1920s and 1930s. Flying was still a perilous business then, and reading about the sort of men who chose that career was utterly fascinating. Perhaps there’s a bit of the philosopher in all pilots, or perhaps Antoine was just of a particularly thoughtful bent, but either way his musings on humanity and life and death were all very thought-provoking....more
I picked up a copy of A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis at The Reader’s Corner the other day, and it was exquisite, in the seldom-used meaning of the worI picked up a copy of A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis at The Reader’s Corner the other day, and it was exquisite, in the seldom-used meaning of the word—keenly sensitive—and in the more typical meaning of beautiful. C.S. Lewis, as always, comes the nearest to wording the unwordable of any human being. I know this is a book I’ll be rereading. It’s so intensely personal that I can certainly understand why he originally published it under a pen name. If I’d written it, I don’t believe I could have published it at all.
I’ve read bits and pieces of Aristotle before, but I’ve never sat down and read one of his works cover-to-cover. I’m finding him fascinating (in a verI’ve read bits and pieces of Aristotle before, but I’ve never sat down and read one of his works cover-to-cover. I’m finding him fascinating (in a very dense, dry fashion), thus far. Reading books written so long ago (2,300 years, give or take) always makes me feel like I’m time-traveling; being able to read the thoughts of someone gone for two millennia seems like it shouldn’t be possible without a time machine....more
Bede, an English monk, finished the History in 731 AD, and he’s generally considered to be the first English historian. He wrote in Latin, of course,Bede, an English monk, finished the History in 731 AD, and he’s generally considered to be the first English historian. He wrote in Latin, of course, but my Latin is NOT up to that kind of challenge, so I’m reading a translation. It’s no page-turner; most ecclesiastical writings from the 8th century aren’t, I expect. But it is intriguing for those with an interest in British history. Bede definitely has his biases. He was quite the Pope Gregory fanboy, and in the book he copies many of the pope’s letters in their entirety. Amusingly enough, one of the main heresies encountered again and again throughout several hundred years, and one that Bede takes very solemnly, is keeping Easter on different days. Folks got into huge arguments about this, accusing one another of heinous apostasy. Whole chapters are dedicated to this. I got a kick out of Bede’s chastisement of the younger “generation of apathy,” and I also chuckled when Bede records a letter from 601 AD in which the author is convinced the end of the world and Christ’s return are coming very soon. We haven’t really changed: we still get bees in our bonnets over minor issues, think that the end of civilization is obviously nigh due to the degenerate times we live in, and think that the younger generation is going to pot....more
The Consolation of Philosophy turned out to be brilliant. I highly recommend it! It’s very short, but very dense. I think I fully digested maybe one-hThe Consolation of Philosophy turned out to be brilliant. I highly recommend it! It’s very short, but very dense. I think I fully digested maybe one-half of what was actually contained in the book. I thoroughly enjoyed Boethius’ devastatingly logical approach to the huge questions in life. It reminded me of something, and at first I couldn’t put my finger on it. I finally figured out that it was very reminiscent of C.S. Lewis’ theological writings. It has that same inexorable logic and the same exquisite arguments. Then I felt pretty dumb, because 5 minutes of Googling revealed that C.S. Lewis was VERY well-acquainted with Boethius, and everyone knew this except me. In 1962, Lewis wrote a list of ten books that influenced him most. Consolation of Philosophy was number 7. He wrote essays on it and was quite the fanboy. I will be the first to admit that Lewis’ reading tastes can be terribly, intimidatingly dry (and that’s coming from someone who enjoys medieval lit), but trust me, Consolation is worth a look....more
I finally read Mere Christianity by CS Lewis the other day. I shouldn’t have waited so long–-forever ago, before I knew CS Lewis at all, I ran acrossI finally read Mere Christianity by CS Lewis the other day. I shouldn’t have waited so long–-forever ago, before I knew CS Lewis at all, I ran across a copy of Mere Christianity and for some reason thought it would be tedious. It is not. In fact, it would have been the perfect introduction to his nonfiction works, had I known it. I was on Goodreads looking at my book stats and realized that this is the 20th book I’ve read by CS Lewis, and I still haven’t read huge portions of his ouevre. Lewis was such a prolific and blindingly original author, even though I’ve read so much, I feel like I’m barely scratching the surface. I already feel like I need to reread Mere Christianity, this time underlining everything.
I’m currently slogging my way through The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. I’m not really sure why, except that it was on my shelf and it seemed likeI’m currently slogging my way through The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. I’m not really sure why, except that it was on my shelf and it seemed like a good idea at the time. I was stuck in hell for AGES, and now it feels as though I’ve been in purgatory for just as long. So far I am supremely unimpressed and a little bit aghast at how seriously we take this guy’s ideas about the afterlife. Basically he just stuck all the folks he didn’t get along with in hell and gave them bizarre punishments; my copy has extensive footnotes about how so-and-so was a student with Dante and they didn’t hit it off. Then, once we got to purgatory, it’s all about Dante’s friends who have died, and he’s all, “Dude, how’d you get this far along? I thought you’d still be stuck way down on the lower levels, considering you were kind of a jerk.” And the dead guy is all, “Naw, man, my awesome wife has been praying for me.” And Dante’s thinks, “Huh, yeah, your wife is pretty awesome.” At the same time, Virgil’s trying his darndest to get Dante to hurry UP already. Every few pages he says, “Dante, seriously, man up and climb the stupid hill. No, you can’t rest. I don’t care if you’re tired. I’m DEAD, don’t be complaining to me about how rough you have it!” Every few pages Dante also rhapsodizes over his paralyzing fear and how he is basically a wuss. I am displeased. But it seems a shame not to finish it, at this stage.
Update: I finished up Alighieri’s book, and maybe I don’t have the right to be so flippant as I was earlier. The Divine Comedy is undeniably a classic, influential in so much that came after it. There’s something of worth there, or it wouldn’t have endured for so long and affected so many writers. Maybe I’m not enough of the intellectual to see it. Still, I have remarkably little tolerance for it when I compare it to, say, Milton’s Paradise Lost. Both make me uneasy for the same reason: I don’t see that anyone has any business writing about God, the afterlife, etc. as if the author’s biblically inspired fiction is as true as its inspiration. Many people know more about Dante’s idea of hell than they do the biblical idea—they have the fiction confused with the truth, probably because Dante’s idea has infiltrated popular culture far more than the biblical one. The same could probably be said of Milton’s Satan versus the biblical portrayal of Satan.
But Milton–arrogant, insufferable, and scripturally inaccurate though he may be–doesn’t rub me the wrong way quite how Dante does. For one thing, the misconceptions his works have fostered regarding religious themes seem less destructive than Dante’s in terms of religious doctrine. Not a lot of Christians know their Bibles well enough to either refute or prove Dante’s points, but his ideas have infiltrated Christian belief. Milton didn’t insinuate that Paradise Lost was a direct vision from God; rather he openly stated that it was his goal to “justify the ways of God to man” through an epic poem. He very nearly chose to write about King Arthur instead, because he felt it would also have afforded him the scope he desired. He needed a big canvas for his art, but it didn’t have to be the Bible. I would also argue that Milton’s images are more vivid and his language more arresting and poetic than Dante’s, though perhaps some of that is a function of translation (I wasn’t fond of the Dante translation I had).
Maybe it does all boil down to personal preference, in the end. I enjoy Milton’s cutting wit, fearsome intellectuality, and utter impatience with foolishness. I loved Areopagitica, and his essays and pamphlets, and I read Paradise Lost under the tutelage of a professor who loved Milton as well and was brilliant at instilling that love in his students. If I’d had something similar for Dante…maybe this review would be shorter and a lot more positive. :P ...more
Goes without saying that it's brilliant. I especially find it fascinating historically because much of it was written during WWII, and a lot of his esGoes without saying that it's brilliant. I especially find it fascinating historically because much of it was written during WWII, and a lot of his essays and sermons deal with related subjects. ...more
Lewis is brilliant, as always, and I sort of wish I hadn't saved him for my last flight home when I was already so tired, because his thoughts requireLewis is brilliant, as always, and I sort of wish I hadn't saved him for my last flight home when I was already so tired, because his thoughts require a fair bit of digestion. Lewis puts things in ways I hadn't thought to consider them, and even if I don't necessarily agree with him, he's certainly mind-stretching. And eventually I do find myself agreeing on most things. It's only some of his generalizations about women that irk, and I think maybe he just didn't meet enough interesting and intellectual women during his lifetime. ...more
I highly recommend Nation by Terry Pratchett. It has a somewhat (well, maybe very) agnostic bent, but darn if it isn't perfectly done. If you're expecI highly recommend Nation by Terry Pratchett. It has a somewhat (well, maybe very) agnostic bent, but darn if it isn't perfectly done. If you're expecting a Discworld novel...don't. It's still funny in spots, but it doesn't take place in the same universe, either in terms of literal setting or literary approach. Exceedingly intriguing.
![The Song Celestial [Bhagavad Gita]](https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1186206926s/1639636.jpg)
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