Book Reviews

These are some of the books I have recently finished, with some brief thoughts concerning each.

An Essay on Man by Alexander Pope = B
Four epistles, written in verse, and each covering one aspect of the nature of man. Namely, the nature of man in relation to the universe, in relation to himself, in relation to society, and in relation to happiness. The ideas and topics presented are generally profoundly obvious, though the poetic way in which they are written can make them difficult to follow in some places. The book certainly has a beautiful way of putting truths, and there are places where the meaning is involved and even controversial.

Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift = C
Must be appreciated for its inventiveness and originality, but is ultimately depressing and despairing. Extremely unrealistic, not only in the fictitious creations that populate Swift’s imaginary lands, but also in the actions of the characters and in the way events fall out. The protagonist is despicable and the book is filled with unnecessary vulgarity. The final conclusion is that man is entirely evil and irredeemable.

A Tale of A Tub by Jonathan Swift = C
Clever, but rather dull and difficult to follow. Written for a specific age and people, and was significant in its time, but is no longer very relevant.

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis = A
Furnishes invaluable insights into the tactics of the Enemy, heightens spiritual discernment and awareness and provides the knowledge and means to apply the principles of spiritual warfare.

Are you Liberal, Conservative, or Confused? By Richard Maybury = A
Most enlightening book. Explains the state of politics and how they got that way, explains the real meanings of political labels. I must disagree with a few fundamental elements of the author’s worldview, but must also admit that it is infinitely better than the norm.

Founding Father by Brookhiser = B
Colorful biography of George Washington. Accurate, detailed and fairly unbiased, as far as I can tell. Was not organized very well.

Ethics of the Dust by Ruskin = B
A rather stilted account of the origins of crystals and minerals that seemed forcibly translated into dialogue and did not hang together very well. Fraught with plenty of moralizing, dull and obvious in some places but valuable and profound in others. Quite impressive for its day.

Macbeth by William Shakespeare = A
Rivaled by Hamlet only, Macbeth is about as good as Shakespeare gets.

Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis = A
A wonderful reworking of the myth of Psyche and Cupid, with deep spiritual insights.

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells = B
Very possibly the first of its kind, the Time Machine is an excellent combination of science fiction and romance that influenced many later writers. Story-line and climax well done. Weak in scientific/technical details and in original descriptions of the future.

Manalive by G.K. Chesterton = A
A fascinating, abnormal story that is not what it appears to be. It intriguingly combines crime and romance and leaves one inspired and satisfied. Excellent writing.

Yours, Jack by C.S. Lewis = A
A complete collection of Lewis’ letters to numerous correspondences. Reveals details about Lewis’ personal life, his worldview, his steadfast faith and his reasons for it, and provides encouragement and inspiration to the individual reader.

The Dark Tower by C.S. Lewis = B
An unfinished story that deals with time travel, alternate realities, and higher dimensions. What would have been an improvement on Well’s Time Machine, if it had ever been completed. Also includes a valuable collection of other short stories Lewis never published.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini = B
I wanted to find out what all the hullabaloo was about this. It was an enjoyable read, with an intriguing story-line and a colorful cast. Much too obvious in its emulation of Star Wars ideology and Lord of the Rings imagery. I fundamentally disagree with New Age philosophy that Paolini promotes in this book.

Black by Ted Dekker = B +
Switching back and forth between alternate realities - the modern action-packed thriller and ancient mythological fantasy, Black is a classic story of the struggle between good and evil, of a mission to save the world. Emotional and involving with a marvelous reworking of the Fall. Weak writing and poor character development in some cases. Right on the line between A and B.