Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Short Reviews of Fifty Books - Part 2 - Quincy's List

Short Reviews of Fifty Books - Part 2 - Quincy's List

May 30, 2014 at 11:03am
My last post reviewed the books on the list of top 50 books to read before you die. As part of a course I am doing for seminary, I have now added reviews of 50 books I have read additional to that list that I have enjoyed and/or felt were significant. As the above list had two non-fiction books (the Bible and the Diary of Anne Frank), a book of short stories (Men Without Women), poetry (The Canterbury Tales), a play (Hamlet), as well as books written primarily for adults and primarily for children, I have also tried to include some of this diversity in my own list (while, as with the first list, the majority of these selections are novels). Also, between the two lists, no author was allowed to have more than one book (thus, no repeated selections from Shakespeare, Lewis, Dickens, Chesterton, Dostoyevsky, etc.).
  1. On the Incarnation by Athanasius – My personal favorite of the early church fathers, Athanasius here presents a Biblical defense of the divinity of Christ, and describes the significance of His incarnation in beautiful terms that would define Christian spirituality for all time.
  2. The City of God by Augustine of Hippo – Taken together with Athanasius (who speaks from a more Eastern spirituality while Augustine speaks more from a Western approach), Augustine provides the basis for almost all of modern theology. His ideas are beautiful and Biblically-based with far-reaching impact in religion, science and philosophy.
  3. Paradise Lost by John Milton – I believe that Milton’s epic describing the creation and fall of man and the redemptive work of God is unequaled by any other writer who has tackled these themes. Milton’s description of the Son’s willingness to become human brought me to tears the first time I read it. I believe all Christians should read at least some of Paradise Lost.
  4. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky – Dostoyevsky wrote with a strong belief in Christ and the sacred nature of the divine image stamped on the human heart informing all his works. The story of this book is fascinating and horrifying, mysterious and hilarious, enriching and devastating. In order to engage with the problem of human suffering from a Christian perspective, read this book.
  5. Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis – Though Lewis, one of the foremost theologians of the past century, wrote many amazing works of fiction, I find his retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche to be the best, both spiritually and aesthetically-speaking. The book displays the true nature of love which causes us to become our true selves as seen by the Divine Lover rather than engage in an idolatrous worship of the false self to which our wayward hearts are drawn.
  6. Holy Sonnets by John Donne – Donne is my favorite poet, and, in these poems, he displays his deep faith and correspondingly deep struggle with faith. As he is unwilling to offer simple spiritual platitudes or empty human philosophy, his passion and desire for Jesus drip from every line. Please note especially Sonnet number 10 and Sonnet number 14.
  7. The First Circle by Alexander Solzhenitsyn – In my continuing love for Russian authors, brilliant Solzhenitsyn emerged from Communist Russia to challenge the world with its need to come to grips with a personal morality emerging from the love of God and neighbor. In this book, he describes the creation of hell in human existence by those who worship the god of self. There is a scene toward the end of the novel with a cartoon cat on a paper cup that you HAVE to read.
  8. Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton – Paton’s story of redemption and forgiveness with the South African apartheid as the background shines with truth about God and the nature of suffering among his creatures. Pastor Kumalo struggles but holds on to the truth in the middle of the fire of temptation and hatred.
  9. The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton – In this book Chesterton dreams a nightmare of life without order, in which physical existence provides the only meaning for life. In the midst of this story, Chesterton’s abiding belief in the goodness and joy inherent in knowing God emerges as the one, true source of hope. Chesterton is my favorite author.
  10. Descent into Hell by Charles Williams – This novel uses the genre of horror and suspense to present a picture of what it means to carry one another’s burdens, a command of Scripture which Williams takes literally, with practical applications in the spiritual realm. Williams’ tremendous literary skill brings Christian spiritual warfare into classic literature.
  11. Watership Down by Richard Adams – Adam’s fantasy world of rabbits, their wars and epic journeys, is extremely well-written and provides one of the best pictures of self-sacrificial leadership available in literature. The characters are memorable and the story is exciting.
  12. Everything that Rises Must Converge by Flannery O’Connor – O’Connor breaks all the rules of writing in order to create this book of short stories which provides unparalleled insight into the fallen psychosis of modern humanity, and the grace scattered therein by the love of God.
  13. Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner – I find Stegner to be a highly underrated American author with an ability to see through the stark isolation of the post-pioneer American West to the longing within every human heart to love and to be loved. In this story, he does so by examining the tragedy that occurs in a marriage between a Western couple made up of an Eastern girl and a son of the pioneers, and the lingering effects on their descendants.
  14. Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro – Munro gets my vote for the best active, living author today. Her short stories display a devastatingly perceptive insight into life, with an ability to bring the mundane and unnoticed to brilliant light with simple images and unfailingly well-chosen prose. This is just one of many excellent short story collections by the author.
  15. The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder – I think all Christians should read this book to gain an eternal perspective. Wilder displays with heart-breaking effectiveness the eternal nature of love, using a tragedy to bring his characters and readers face-to-face with timeless truth.
  16. Phantastes by George MacDonald – A challenging read (not long, yet hard to understand), but also an unforgettable encounter with truth and beauty as viewed through a fantasy of unrequited love. The book blends traditional forms of poetry, prose, free verse and epic writing seamlessly, all from a deeply Spiritual, Biblical worldview.
  17. The Chosen by Chaim Potuk – Potuk examines the lives of two Jewish teens in Brooklyn in the 1940’s, using cultural and religious mores to bring out a delightfully obvious and yet incredibly potent metaphor about God’s Will and the nature of human suffering. Please read this book.
  18. Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy – If you read Thomas Hardy, you will quickly gather two things: (1) He is an incredibly gifted storyteller, and (2) he had relationship troubles. This is one of the happier of his novels, in which readers find a story that speaks about the true nature of married love, which Hardy believes is founded on friendship and self-sacrifice. Additionally, all Hardy books deal, at some level, with questions of the meaning of existence.
  19. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery – Though some of Montgomery’s stories descend to the level of sentimentalism, most of her books are extremely well-written, overflowing with a hilarious and thought-provoking ability to perceive and describe people who seem like they walked into her pages out of our lives. Anne is an admirable heroine in all ways.
  20. The Nine Tailors by Dorothy Sayers – Sayers is the first of several incredibly talented female writers of mystery stories to be featured on this list. In Lord Peter Whimsy, Sayers came up with a shining example of both nobility and the angst that often accompanies it. She also finds clever ways to remind us of the hope found in faith in the goodness of God and of His people.
  21. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie – Christie is truly the master of the short detective novel and in this book and in Then There Were None her powers to surprise and shock her readers are clearly on display. Hercule Poirot speaks out a clear moral vision of “I do not approve of murder” as he wreaks his unflinching vengeance on those who take life.
  22. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner – Here, Faulkner attempts to imagine the mind of a mentally incapacitated man, with echoes of Joyce’s Ulysses present, and carries off the literary effort spectacularly. While reading Faulkner is always uncomfortable as he refuses to soften the hard blows life deals to those who fall before its strokes, I think it’s important for Christians to enter the sphere of great suffering to find the hope and humanity there. Content Issues: Some language and mild sexual innuendo.
  23. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson – You are probably familiar with this story from various movies, but the adventure of Jim and company in search of the long-lost treasure is exciting, well-written and contains great depth in an effort to examine good-and-evil, compassion and greed, and courage and fear.
  24. Dracula by Bram Stoker – Stoker’s book has some issues in writing style, but it has a clearly developed spirituality of good and evil, in which the fight with the dreaded vampire requires the strength and fortitude of all those involved. It’s an exciting and entertaining read! Content Issues: Slightly gory at times.
  25. Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott -  Scott’s noble tale of a 12th Century English knight and his fair love, as well as the fairer girl whose love for Ivanhoe goes unreturned is truly beautiful. His novel also presents an implicit argument for equality among races and clearly demonstrates the nobility of sacrificing oneself for the good of others. Plus, it has Robin Hood in it. It’s just a great read.
  26. A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters – In this often overlooked treasure, Peters creates the memorable character of Brother Cadfael, a Welsh, ex-Crusader turned Benedictine monk in medieval England who spreads a message of grace and redemption among all with whom he interacts. The best thing about this book is that it is the first in a lengthy series, each story including a romance, a murder mystery and meaningful reflection on the truth of God’s love.
  27. Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe – Stowe’s novel, which as Lincoln said “started a big war,” speaks with moral vision and spiritual strength across the centuries. Her writing style is not particularly excellent, at times dripping with sentimentality, but she towers among many other authors for the depth of her faith and conviction to present the truth.
  28. God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut – Vonnegut is not a Christian, yet, he often borrows lumber from the moralist’s lumberyard to infuse his sardonic stories with the light of the possibility of better days ahead for his belabored heroes and heroines. In this book, he examines the life of a man of privilege who decides to care for the needs of the ordinary. It is well-written and filled with incisive challenges to many assumptions of modern life, as all Vonnegut books are. Vonnegut is a great writer to read in order to be challenged, which I think is important for all Christians.Content Issues: Some profanity and mild sexual innuendo.
  29. Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro – Ishiguro would get my vote for best active, living writer after Munro, as he has written several excellent books. This book follows the life of an English serving-man who realizes he is losing the life that he has always known, while at the same time discovering hidden longings to express feelings, to find love, and to appreciate beauty. It is a beautiful and strangely heart-rending story.
  30. Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz – Sienkiewicz, a Polish author, often fills his books with violently brave Polish warriors unswervingly dedicated to protecting their families and honoring their Lord. In this book, however, Sienkiewicz follows the persecution of Christians under Nero by telling the story of the love between a Christian and a secular Roman. The book is well-written and, most notably, contains many memorable moments that challenge us to go deeper in our dedication to following Jesus.
  31. The Princess Bride by William Golding – Many Christians have no doubt seen the Princess Bride movie, but may not know that there is a book that is just as good, if not better, than the film production. The book tells an enchanting love story, but also delves into philosophy and questions about the meaning of life, proclaiming the truth that true love conquers all.
  32. The Moviegoer by Walker Percy – Percy’s life is fascinating; raised in a well-respected, liberal Protestant family in the South U.S., he became a devout Catholic following tragic events in which his grandfather and parents committed suicide. This story follows a young man in the South who discovers a growing sense of isolation and dissatisfaction with the world that leads him to wonder if there is more to life. Beautifully written and haunting.
  33. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley – Bradley started writing novels in his late 60’s, and his books are a refreshing interruption of post-modernism with the free-spirited, chemistry-loving sleuth, Flavia de Luce, an 11 year-old girl in the countryside of post-War England. Rather than being simply mystery stories, Flavia’s adventures seek to find the underlying order and beauty which will make sense of a world trying to recover its reason.
  34. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline Le’Engle – Le’Engle’s book is written about the problem of evil and directed toward children and young adults. As Meg, Charles Wallace and their friend Calvin search the universe for a missing father, Le’Engle introduces deep themes regarding suffering, equality, and the power of love.
  35. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury – Bradbury is a talented and creative writer, and in this book, he imagines a world without books, and, so, gets at the heart of why reading and writing are important. His tale of suspense and a dystopian world makes a strong case for the human need to express oneself in art.
  36. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne – Hawthorne novels get a lot of hate because people are often forced to read them in school, but his classic tale of a forbidden romance and living amidst the condemnation of a community truly explores some timeless themes of forgiveness and courage in the aftermath of a terrible mistake.
  37. The Kiterunner by Khaled Hosseini – A beautiful story of tragedy and redemption, this book explores the conflict between the unbelievable power of hatred and the unending strength of forgiveness. The setting is Afghanistan, and the friendship of two young boys there. Content Issues: Some language and a scene in which a child is raped (not described graphically).
  38. The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov – This play follows a Russian family through the end of serfdom in Russia and the beginning of a more modern era. The play finds an incredibly subtle point of balance between comedy and tragedy, examining what makes our lives worth living.
  39. Right Ho, Jeeves! By P.G. Wodehouse – While I debated taking this book off the list, I decided that being able to make people laugh is an incredibly important gift in a writer. No one has a greater awareness of the absurd, a more unerring ability to turn a phrase to make you laugh out loud than P.G. Wodehouse. Remember, a cheerful heart is good medicine!
  40. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert – At surface level, this story seems to be about a woman who decides to commit adultery, and, I don’t know about you, but I would rather not read a story about that. However, if you read this book, you will encounter layers and layers of meaning, in which Flaubert brilliantly explores the never-ending consequences of human choice.
  41. The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle – Sherlock Holmes was my first literary love, and I think Doyle does not get enough credit for his creativity and development of complexities within his characters. This is my favorite of his novels, full of excitement and heart.
  42. Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan – As with Uncle Tom’s CabinPilgrim’s Progressis not included primarily for writing skill, but for truth in spiritual content. Bunyan is the master of allegory, and reading this book is a devotional experience as well as an entertaining one.
  43. Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides – This book is a historical account of the rescue of American soldiers from Japanese prison camps at the end of World War II. This is absolutely my favorite piece of historical writing, and it speaks to the value of every human life. It also makes me proud to be a United States’ citizen, as we are probably the only country that would use valuable resources and irreplaceable assets to rescue soldiers who were as good as dead.
  44. In His Steps by Charles Sheldon – Continuing in the line with Uncle Tom’s Cabinand Pilgrim’s Progress, this book is not very well-written, but it is very challenging and encouraging to a person’s Christian walk. The question under consideration is what difference it would make if we were each to determine to live as Jesus lives, and love as He loves. Reading this book never fails to bring me closer to my Lord, and that is about as high a compliment as I can give.
  45. Death and the Penguin by Andrey Kurkov – This modern addition to Russian novels I love follows the journey of Viktor and his pet penguin through post-Soviet society in Russia, learning how to love and how to avoid being killed by the mafia. The book is well-written, funny, strange and, ultimately, hopeful. I am excited to hear that Kurkov wrote a sequel to it. Content Issues: Some profanity.
  46. It’s a Magical World by Bill Watterson – The primarily American genre of the comic strip deserves some attention, and, while I love Walt Kelly and Charles Schultz, I think the greatest comic strip in terms of artistic ability and skill at addressing issues of significant philosophical and spiritual value was Calvin and Hobbes. Plus, it’s hilarious!
  47. What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver – This collection of short stories is powerful and challenging. Carver is a very masculine writer, and his stories get straight to the heart with no interest in beating around the bush. He is an excellent writer.
  48. The Trial by Franz Kafka – As one of the early giants of post-modernist writing, Kafka deals constantly with isolationism and meaning-making in a world without purpose. This book is a challenging read, but engaging with it in the attempt to find how Jesus provides hope in our despair provides an excellent chance for moral and intellectual growth.
  49. Beloved by Toni Morrison – Morrison’s evocative ghost story deals with the long-lasting effects of physical and spiritual bondage, and the freedom that is found in forgiveness and love. Content Issues: Some sexual imagery and mild language.
  50. The End of Baseball by Peter Schilling, Jr. – I am a big fan of sports in general and baseball in specific. In this creative novel, Schilling imagines a world in which a baseball executive breaks the color barrier by filling a professional baseball team with players from the Negro Leagues. This is definitely the most obscure book on the list, but it is written at a good level and inspires us to think about how being willing to go against the way of the world brings freedom. Content Issues: Some sexual innuendo and some strong language.