The reading of late has been absolutely exceptional with most of the books of the last couple of months earning the whole 5 stars possible. Let’s run down the list.
Fire Over England, written by A.E.W. Mason, is an adventure story set against the imminent invasion of England by the Spanish Armada. It is full of page-turning action. There are intriguing parallels drawn between the England of the 16th Century and the England of the 1930s which is facing the threats to its existence from the Nazi ascendancy in Europe. I have read Fire Over England a couple of times before and I enjoyed it once again. Make it a 4-star novel.
Claire agrees with me that Tim Tebow’s Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life’s Storms is definitely 5-star book. There is plenty of insight, encouragement, challenge, and wise counsel. Tebow illustrates in various ways his theme that you know “who you are” by knowing “Whose you are.” He also speaks movingly about the necessity of having a tight “circle of trust” for accountability and motivation, about learning the lessons from disappointment that can bring you closer to God, and much more. Claire and I both recommend it highly.
Rereading Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by General Lew Wallace was another re-reading project that both Claire and I undertook this last quarter. My, what a story! What detailed and fascinating history! What spiritual inspiration! Sure, you’ve seen the movies -- 1907, 1925 (MGM’s version that was the most expensive silent film ever), 1959 (with Charlton Heston and Stephen Boyd as the lead actors) 2003, and 2016 – but you’re missing most of the treasure if you don’t read the book. 5 stars? Of course.
I found Arthur Conan Doyle’s 14th century military adventure, The White Company, not quite as enjoyable as my first reading many years ago. So, I’m leaving it in the 3-star category.
Next up is another compelling 5-star read, 10 Books That Screwed Up the World: And 5 Others That Didn't Help by Benjamin Wiker. It’s a wow, no doubt about it. I spent profound hours carefully reading this excellent and extremely important book. I particularly endorse it as a resource for Christians who desire to know the “whats” and “whys” regarding the de-volution of Western civilization…as well as learning the “hows” of reclaiming some of the authority and relevance the Church has so pitifully surrendered in the last century.
We have taken advantage of travel time in recent months to “read” five of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia via the superb radio adaptations done by Focus on the Family produced between 1999 and 2002. On our way to Colorado and back in August, we listened to The Magician’s Nephew and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Then in October, as we drove to Wichita, then Branson, and back to Omaha, we listened with great delight to The Horse and His Boy, Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia, and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
These productions, by the way, are excellent adaptations with almost all of the text of the original books kept intact. In addition, they utilize the voices of such distinguished actors as Paul Scofield and David Suchet, a fantastic musical score, realistic sound effects, and more. For fans of Narnia, these productions are wonderful. In fact, we suggest you consider putting the series on your Christmas shopping list, perhaps a used CD set. And ratings? 5-star ratings go to all of the above titles except the Dawn Treader. For though there is marvelous stuff in that book, I’m afraid the chapters about the Island of the Voices, the Dufflepuds, and the Dark Island drop the book to a 4-star for me.
My favorite Charles Dickens novel seems always to be the one I’m reading at the time. But it is certainly true that Nicholas Nickleby stands a bit taller than most. I thoroughly enjoyed evenings at our condo down in Branson with Nicholas, Madeline, Smike, Newman Noggs, John Browdie, the Cheeryble brothers and even the despicable villains Ralph Nickleby, Arthur Gride, and Wackford and Mrs. Squeers. Nicholas Nickleby easily earns 5 stars and then some.
At a discount bookstore in Branson, I came across a new edition of David McCullough’s first published book, The Johnstown Flood. It was an extremely interesting, well-written history about one of America’s horrific and most publicized tragedies. It’s a solid 4-star history.
The last title in this Book Den reading update is the classic novel of the Ozark hills and valleys, Harold Bell Wright’s The Shepherd of the Hills. It made for a particularly appropriate re-read for our Branson getaway but, alas, I didn’t actually begin it until our very last night there and finishing it soon after returning to Nebraska. Not to worry, even sitting in my own living room, Wright’s imagination and literary skills made me feel like I was still down in an Ozark “holler” dodging the Baldknobbers with young Matt, Sammy, Pete, and Dad Howitt. The Shepherd of the Hills is an easy, pleasurable read with action, mystery, and inspiration aplenty that earns 5 stars.
On the list for the next few weeks? Well, the current plan includes: re-reads of Bleak House (Charles Dickens), Heaven (Randy Alcorn), A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens), and the last two books in C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia. And first time readings of We Will Not Be Silenced (Erwin Lutzer), Jesus Is Risen: Paul and the Early Church (David Limbaugh), and No Little People: Sixteen Sermons for the 20th Century (Francis Schaeffer).
