The Lion and the Land of Narnia Compiled by Robert Cording

Goodreads: The Lion and the Land of Narnia
Series: None
Published: 2008
Source: Purchased

Summary: Cording compiles testimonials from authors, professors, children, and more about the effects C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia have had on their lives and their faith.  Illustrated by Cording.

Review: The Lion and the Land of Narnia functions sort of as a coffee table book--something which readers can flip through, admiring Cording's paintings and occasionally pausing to read a letter from Lewis or a testimony from one of his readers that looks particularly interesting.  The testimonials cover largely the same ground, so readers need not feel obligated to go through them all at once.  However, the book does contain some gems, notably writings from such people as Michael Ward (author of Planet Narnia) and Walter Hooper (personal secretary to Lewis). The range of writers emphasizes the impact Lewis's Chronicles have had on generations of readers, from those who grew up with Narnia to those who discovered it only late in life.

Cording does a nice job of compiling the contributions to his book, interspersing deeper reflections with fun letters from Lewis to his readers or cute writings from children.  The book covers a lot of ground, with contributors variously discussing Lewis's role in their conversions or faith, their understanding of how Lewis's writing works to convey truth and beauty, or simply their emotional and intellectual reactions to Narnia.  Some of the younger contributors prove especially eloquent, explaining how much they love Narnia and why.  Anyone who has entered through the wardrobe with Lucy will respond to the musings of these contributors and feel that they have found kindred spirits.

Though only about 60 pages, The Lion and the Land of Narnia provides a lot to think about in regards to Narnia and the ways in which stories speak to us and transform us.  It is a heartwarming look at the way in which one man's imaginary world changed the lives of countless readers.

Dante in Love by A. N. Wilson

Goodreads: Dantein Love

Series: None

Published: 2011

Source: Purchased

Summary: Wilson provides an account of the social and cultural forces that shaped Dante’s world while also exploring Dante’s concept of love and how it inspired his Divine Comedy.

Review: By summarizing the cultural, political, and religious forces at work in Renaissance Italy, Wilson works to expel some of the fear that approaching Dante’s Divine Comedy may inspire in his readers.  The work is so rife with allusions to the events and people of Dante’s day that readers can find themselves feeling as lost as Dante in that dark wood.  Do they need to understand all the allusions?  Are they missing out on some of complex layers of the work if they merely follow the main plot?  Wilson takes these concerns and, in answer, writes the book that just about every Dante novice wishes they had.

Wilson’s explanation of the confusion he felt when reading the Divine Comedy should make readers feel immediately at ease with him as their guide through Dante’s world.  He knows personally the difficulties readers will encounter and does not suggest these difficulties are the fault of the readers.  Rather, he notes that the Divine Comedy is a complex work—but an approachable one, if readers have the right tools.  He thus jumps right in to explaining the pertinent background information, and does not bog down his readers with more facts than he thinks necessary.

Despite Wilson’s desire to make an extremely complex subject simpler, however, he sometimes seems to impede his own efforts.  The book does not progress in a strictly chronological manner, but jumps around so the author can explain the effect events will have in the future or note the differences between works written by Dante at different times.  Wilson also interjects his historical account with a small amount of literary criticism, occasionally diverging from the subject at hand to expound upon some facet of the nature of love.  I would not have minded these digressions if I felt that Wilson ever truly clarified where he wanted to go with them. 

Wilson also intersperses his book with some personal references.  Some of these are fruitful, such as the ones where he explains his own journey through Dante and thus encourages his readers to take the plunge and experience their own transformative reading.  Others are mere asides about his personal opinions on the current state of society and the Catholic Church.  These are really the weakest points of the book.  It is easy for Wilson to criticize the Church for such things as the opposition to artificial birth control, but he provides no arguments for his beliefs, and they are unlikely to resonate with anyone familiar with the lengthy, nuanced answer of the Church as explained in Pope John Paul II’s theology of the body.  Since this is a book about Dante and not a forum to discuss the merits of birth control, such commentary seems out of place.

Despite its flaws, Wilson’s book is an invaluable guide to the world of Dante and his Divine Comedy.  If it does nothing more than let readers know that they are not alone in feeling intimidated by Dante, it will have done good.  I firmly recommend this book to anyone about to read the Divine Comedy.    

Content Reviews: YA Contemporary [1]

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Goodreads: Lola and the Boy Next Door

Series: Companion book to Anna and the French Kiss

Publication Date: September 29, 2011

Source: Gifted

Summary:  Seventeen-year-old Lola Nola thinks herself nearly perfectly happy.  She has a great best friend, a super-cool older rock star boyfriend, and lots of talent sewing original clothing.  Her world is shattered, however, when the Bells, specifically eighteen-year-old Cricket Bell, move back next door.  Two years of hating him, and how he left her, cannot stop her from secretly wanting him back in her life.

Conclusions:  Lola and the Boy Next Door is a sweet, uplifting book that has fantastic messages about being true to oneself, learning to forgive, and living up to potential.  Although Lola faces many challenges in her life, including complicated relationships with boys and her own family, she always manages to find her way back to herself and to some type of truth about how to live a good and fulfilling life.  

On the romance front, there is some underage, premarital sex.  It is not treated casually, but neither is it condemned as immoral.  Beyond this, however, the messages Lola and the Boy Next Door sends are sound.  Friends and family caution against Lola's relationship with a much-older boy (He's 22).  Ultimately, Lola learns that good relationships are based on honesty and respect, and that they should inspire the individuals in them to be the best versions of themselves they can be.

On the familial front, Lola learns from the bad example of her mother that drinking, drugs, and teen pregnancy are all bad ideas.   She has, however, been raised by her uncle Nathan and his partner Andy in a loving household.  So although she encounters pot and alcohol within the book, she does not herself participate.

Overall, this is just as inspirational a read as it is an adorable romance.

Tempestuous by Kim Askew and Amy Helmes

Goodreads: Tempestuous

Series: Twisted Lit #1

Publication Date: December 18, 2012

Source: Borrowed

Summary: A modern day retelling of The Tempest by William Shakespeare.  

Conclusions:  The story is based on Shakespeare, so a bit of cursing and vulgarity is to be expected.  The book is appropriately YA, however, and nothing gets out of hand.

The romance is very sweet and, like Lola, Miranda discovers that being in a relationship is just about "being loved for who you are" but about aspiring to be better.  Of course a significant other should accept you and love you, and not enter a relationship with the intention of changing you, but that does not mean you never need to grow or improve yourself.  Good boyfriends and girlfriends help you in your personal journey to become a kinder or more patient or more confident.  Tempestuous is a rare YA book that points this out.

Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

Goodreads: Lock and Key

Series: None

Publication Date: April 22, 2008

Source: Gifted  

Summary:  After Ruby's mother disappears, Ruby is sent to live with her older sister Cora, whom she has not seen in years.  Cora has a new, upscale life that Ruby never knew about, and she is certain she does not want to become a part of it now.  The cute boy next door is only making matters more complicated.

Conclusions:  Lock and Key features a clean romance.  Here, the story is mainly about Ruby finding herself and interacting/flirting with a guy, rather than about their romantic relationship.  The main character does deal with minor drinking and drug problems, but they are portrayed as problems, and not either normal or acceptable actions.  She also struggles with family problems, as her mother seems unwilling to take responsibility for her children, but Ruby does ultimately start working on building stable relationships.  The message is that you can be who you want in life, and that the mistakes of your parents do not need to define you.

Angels and Demons by Peter Kreeft

Goodreads: Angels and Demons: What Do We Really Know about Them?

Series: none

Publication Date: December 12, 1995

Source: Purchased

Summary:  A book of questions and answers about the nature of angels and demons. Categories include: Our Fascination with Angels, How We Know Anything about Angels, The Nature of Angels, and Demons.

Review:   Peter Kreeft asks and answers a large variety of questions (100 of them) about the importance, nature, and powers of angels, all with his characteristic humor and thoughtfulness.  Readers will come away both knowledgeable and cheered.

The book opens by addressing why its own existence matters at all.  Question 1 is: O.K., so I’m browsing through this book and wondering: why should I buy it?  What can you tell me about angels in one page?  And Kreeft gives twelve concise answers as to why angels matter at all and why they are fascinating.  Readers who were honestly wondering will find themselves with great answers.  Readers who have no doubt as to why they are reading/buying the book can skip this question, and this whole section, with ease and delve right into questions about the nature of angels.  The book is made to be browsed.

Kreeft’s cover a wide variety of topics.  Many are “obvious” questions, ones that need to be asked.  Others, such as Do angels have a special connection with the sea?, seem random, but they are all questions Kreeft has actually been asked, often by students in his college courses.  Although Kreeft is often funny, for example joking in answer to the question Are there ever angels in the outfield? that only Red Sox demons would influence baseball games, he still eventually takes every question seriously and offers great insight, based on Catholic teaching and his own reading.  He often quotes C. S. Lewis and Tolkien.

Angels and Demons is thus a complete, compelling work that offers concise answers to important questions.  Its quality is characteristic of all Kreeft’s work.

Looking for...Explorations of The Hobbit

The History of the Hobbit by John D. Rateliff

Rateliff chronicles Tolkien's process in writing his 1938 work The Hobbit by providing early manuscript versions and noting the changes made.  He also includes an account of the revision of the famous chapter "Riddles in the Dark" in 1949 to reflect the new information about the One Ring as given in The Lord of the Rings, and an account of Tolkien's attempt to rewrite The Hobbit in the 1960s so the that tone of the book would better match that of The Lord of the Rings.  Also of interest are drawings and unpublished maps by Tolkien.  The work comes in two parts: Mr. Baggins and Return to Bag-End.

Exploring J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit by Corey Olsen

Olsen offers a critical look at The Hobbit as a work in its own right and not only as a prequel to The Lord of Rings by going through the book chapter-by-chapter.  He pays particular attention to the poetry of the work.

The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkied ed. by Humphrey Carpenter and Christopher Tolkien

Tolkien describes his progress through Middle-earth in his own words, addressing such subjects as the meaning behind The Lord of the Rings, the significance of certain characters, and the surprising turns his writing took.  Readers will learn how Middle-earth took shape in Tolkien's mind through the years as well as the author's thoughts on extra-literary matters.

The Clown of God Told and Illustrated by Tomie dePaola

Goodreads: The Clown of God

Series: None

Published: 1978

Source: Library

Summary: As an old man, a former juggler finds his audiences have dissipated and his livelihood disappeared.  He thinks he has nothing to offer the Christ child for his birthday, but then remembers the one thing he still possesses—the talent to make others happy.

Review: DePaola takes an old French legend and makes it his own, setting it at the beginning of the Renaissance in Italy and meticulously researching that time period to depict accurate clothing and settings.  The result is a visually stunning work of art that takes readers on a journey through the past and captures their imaginations.  The tale, though simple, is a heartwarming one with a great lesson—perfect for young readers.

DePaola uses his words effectively, writing in short phrases and sentences that create a sort of leisurely feeling.  I wanted to pause after each bit, savoring the words and the story.  The simplicity of the writing almost makes it seem as if the titular character himself narrates his life.  The tone has a childlike quality especially evident in such statements as “But he was happy, and he could do something wonderful” or “It was a very good arrangement.”  The words have a sort of finality about them that would stem from a child confident that his story would be believed and understood.  What does it matter if Giovanni the juggler is poor and a beggar?  He says life is good, and so it must be.

Bringing the story further to life are dePaola’s striking illustrations.  Full of bold colors and simple lines, they provide enough detail to make it seem as if readers are looking at scenes of Renaissance Italy, but they also leave room for the imagination.  The characters stand out from their backgrounds, usually blank or bare, so that the action stays focused on Giovanni and his travels.  Later illustrations, however, give glimpses of the majesty of the Italian churches and suggest something of the great intellectual and artistic revolution about to take place.

The Clown of God is a touching story that reminds readers that each person has something special to offer the world.  Its message of love will surely being a smile to the faces of its readers.

Happy Birthday to the Professor!

J. R. R. Tolkien was born on 3 January 1982 and, to celebrate his life and legacy, the Tolkien Society hosts a toast each year at 9 p.m. local time.  So, take your favorite drink (it does not have to be alcoholic--definitely not if you are underage or if it would jeopardize your health!) and toast to "the Professor"!

"Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory.  If a soldier is imprisoned by the enemy, don't we consider it his duty to escape?...If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we're partisans of liberty, than it's our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!"-J. R. R. Tolkien