Book Review: The Elsewhere Express

I'm not much into fantasy books. While I can deal with magical realism, the really out there fantasy novels elude me. The Elsewhere Express is such a beautiful physical book, that I couldn't help but pick it up. Stencils of colorful luggage appear around the edges of the pages. The cover is dreamy and enticing. It is billed as a train that takes you to your life purpose. How intriguing!

Hiraya Sia's parents conceived her to provide organs for their ailing son. This idea is fraught with internal conflicts. Quentin Chen Phillips Jr. is an artist on the cusp of losing his eyesight. This is another conflicting experience. These are the two passengers readers follow onto The Elsewhere Express, an imaginary train built "by the hours people have spent staring out of the window, wishing they were somewhere else. It is in constant motion, fueled by a steady stream of wandering thoughts. Every inch of the train writhes with reveries and vibrates with the constant chatter of conversations people have with themselves." Neither character knows why they have landed on this imaginary train. Raya wants off. Quentin, with restored sight on the train, is desperate to stay on the train.

I will admit, it was a bit too philosophical and woo-woo for me. But, it was a quick and absorbing read. And in the process of watching these two try to find their way and their place on this mythical train, the reader considers lots of scenarios of loss, grief, purpose, life fulfillment, and creativity. I was intrigued to learn that the author is from the Philippines (a place I served in missionary work in the summer of 1987). The writing is good and the premise is promising. Pages fly by. While I wouldn't want to land on the Elsewhere Express myself, it was interesting to visit for a few hours over several days. 

Book Review: The Harmony Within

Rolland Hein, author of The Harmony Within: The Spiritual Vision of George MacDonald, was my professor at Wheaton College years ago. George MacDonald's book, Phantastes, had a vast impact on C. S. Lewis. Although I've never read Phantastes, I selected Hein's book for my post-devotional reading in the morning. Since I've only read one MacDonald book, At the Back of the North Wind, it may have been better to dive into the author's writings before reading literary criticism about them.

George MacDonald wrote over 50 volumes of poetry, essays, short stories, sermons, fantasies, and novels. Hein provides extensive lists of his primary and secondary sources in his bibliography. Honestly, I had no business reading this book, based on my miniscule exposure to MacDonald's works. However, I did gain a sense of this author's spiritual perspectives. Even without extensive knowledge of the fantasies (the primary focus of study), I was able to follow the book's structure and learn of MacDonald's views and goals. I'm not a big fan of fantasy. Indeed, I think I'm more interested in reading his sermons than his fantasies. Hein's book examines MacDonald's oeuvre to show how his spiritual perspectives/understanding helped to determine the shape of his novels/fantasies.

For more on MacDonald and an overview of his prolific works, visit The Works of George MacDonald.

* I'm glad I already owned a copy of this book as the Amazon price ranges from $26-$47. I would be interested in reading Hein's The Heart of George MacDonald: A One-Volume Collection of His Most Important Fiction and then tackling his book, George MacDonald: Victorian Mythmaker. It saddened me to learn this beloved professor died two years ago. I have fond memories of his classes and of the students with whom I shared those moments.

Book Review: The Magician's Nephew

After completing a re-read of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, I headed to the library hoping to find the second book in the series. The librarian (with obvious pride in knowing these details) explained that the order actually (although "actually" is a subjective word here) starts with The Magician's Nephew. I think I had heard this whole dilemma before, but had forgotten. In my humble opinion, I'm glad I read LWW first. It was a more striking entrance into the idea of Narnia. I preferred that book to this prequel. I may not even continue with re-reading the series.

In The Magician's Nephew, we meet Digory and Polly, two bored children in London. The kids, with the help of Uncle Andrew's magic rings, go on adventures to other worlds. By the end, they land in Narnia and meet Aslan. This book holds the clue to how the evil witch entered Narnia. It bears some similarity to Biblical stories of the first sin. While it was entertaining, I don't feel compelled to stick with this. I need something that grabs my attention with more force. Besides, I had already reviewed the entire series when I read a few of them with my younger sons (and then completed the series on my own) back in 2011. 

I would be interested, however, in seeing the upcoming movie of The Magician's Nephew, slated for the end of 2026. It will star Carey Mulligan as Digory's ailing mother. It is due to be released in IMAX theaters on November 26, 2026. If you want to know more, here's a You Tube video about the movie.

Book Review: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

My job at the Marion E. Wade Center, during my college years, required hosting tours for small groups of school children. I loved showing them the actual inspiration for the wardrobe. It bore a sign declaring the Wade Center free of any legal obligation associated with children who disappear into the wardrobe. I needed an audio book for my endless May car rides (lots of ferrying people here and there while we were down to one car). What a joy to return to the Narnia series with the ever-popular The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie live with a professor in the country during the Blitz. While enjoying a game of hide-and-seek, they enter a wardrobe and a land of imagination full of satyrs, dwarves, centaurs, and giants. In Narnia, the White Witch, who has overtaken the land and brought endless winter, wants to capture them. But, Aslan is on the move. He, alone, can save the children and restore them to their rightful places as kings and queens in Narnia.

Though Lewis had no children, he did a fine job of tapping into child-appealing storytelling mode. I have fond memories of reading this to my two younger sons when they were small. We didn't complete the whole series (their attention spans were typical of this generation), but I enjoyed sharing this snippet with them. I will have to see if my library has more of the series in audio form.

Book Review: A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War

I'm grateful for D'Ann Mateer's recommendation of Joseph Loconte's A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War. This book combines my two favorite subjects, history and literature. While at Wheaton College, I spent hours working in The Wade Center, a museum dedicated to the writings of seven Christian British writers. What a privilege to transcribe C. S. Lewis' personal letters! Then I was fortunate enough to travel with the director in Scotland for an oral history interview with Lewis' first cousin. Indeed, that cemented my desire to pursue a Master's degree in history. So I was eager to get my hands on this book devoted to the influences that shaped the writings of two Wade Center writers.

The fires of adversity forge influential writers and form lasting friendships. J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis have both written books that have touched many. Yet we might not have books from either author without the other. Tolkien prodded Lewis' faith. Lewis propelled Tolkien's persistence. 

Loconte shows how God used war's devastation to shape the faith and writings of these two outstanding authors. Their lives and perspectives changed forever. They both sought to embody their stories with small, average people tackling intense battles of good against evil. Tolkien's hobbits became heroes. Lewis' children became kings and queens.

That Tolkien and Lewis found each other in Oxford is a testament to God's grace and purpose in their lives. I loved reading about the power of friendship in the Inklings, a group of like-minded Christian writers. As Lewis remarked, "What I owe them is incalculable. Is any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a good fire?" That truly sounds heavenly. I would love an opportunity to sit with a circle of Christian friends by a good fire! Loconte observes, "Their experience reminds us that great friendship is a gift born of adversity: it is made possible by the common struggle against the world's darkness."

I only recently encountered Tolkien's term "eucatastrophe" in another book. It is "a decisive act of Grace that promises to overcome our guilt, restore what has been lost, and set things right." Then, I heard it again on the When There Are No Words podcast. This concept is intriguing. It is what we see at the end of their books and what we can expect at the end of our world. Come, Lord Jesus, come! Both Tolkien and Lewis teach us we are part of a great story playing out in time. It is an "epic story of sacrifice and courage and clashing armies: the Return of the King... a day when every heart will be laid bare. We will know, with inexpressible joy or unspeakable sorrow, whether we have chosen Light or Darkness." 

What have you chosen? Do you deny the King? Or do you belong to the King? Will the horrors of this battle between good and evil leave you disillusioned? Or will you cling to the hope of our Savior who promises the ultimate eucatastrophe?

If you find this topic appealing yet lack time to read, stay tuned for Thursday's Mid-Month Mention.

Book Review: The Hobbit

Sean started out his summer re-reading the Harry Potter series (for the umpteenth time). A month before school resumed, I caught him back with book one again. Incredulously, he was re-reading the series, yet again. Desperate for him to move on to something else, I brought home three options I felt sure he'd enjoy. I suggested Craig Silvey's Jasper Jones (despite the foul language, a riveting tale with boy appeal), Patrick Ness' The Knife of Never Letting Go (one I'd happily re-read, although perhaps not a dozen times in Sean's fashion), and J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. For two of these, I promised the opportunity to watch the movie once finished. Since I was hoping he'd go for the final option, I secured the audio version for myself.

I read this as a teenager, but haven't picked it up since. Although it was a delight to listen to Rob Inglis' narration, I did stumble upon a few videos showing a more recent rendering by Andy Serkis. Talk about intense reading! My long-standing memory from my personal reading was the Gollum's repetition of "my precious" in the passage of riddles between the hobbit and Gollum (rendered here by Andy Serkis).

Is there anyone who doesn't know what The Hobbit is about? The wizard Gandalf interrupts Bilbo Baggins in his hobbit-hole and invites him on a quest, accompanied by over a dozen dwarves. After reluctantly agreeing, Bilbo finds himself in Gollum's murky quarters and happens upon a magic ring. Throughout the adventure, he proves his worth again and again. With elves, wolves, bears, eagles, and dragons afoot, Bilbo uses his wits and his magic ring to get them out of scrapes and closer to the dragon's hoard of riches.

Although fantasy is not my first choice in fictional fare, I did enjoy Tolkien's rich narrative skill. I'm even eager to continue on to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, since I never persisted with that before. I believe I've already watched all the movies, but if I can finagle Sean into finishing this read, I will watch The Hobbit with him and encourage him to read the trilogy, as well.

Book Review: Out of the Silent Planet

I'm generally a big fan of C.S. Lewis and his writing. I should be. I spent four years of my life helping to transcribe his personal letters at the Marion E. Wade Center on Wheaton College's campus. I have always felt he gets the heart of matters so well and eloquently turns a phrase to bring insight into difficult subjects of religious belief and philosophical understanding. Nonetheless, I'm not a big fan of space travel literature. Despite his skilled pen, I didn't fully appreciate this short novel, Out of the Silent Planet, the first in a trilogy. I know Lewis meant it to be an allegorical tale, but it didn't stir me in the same way his other works moved me.

Dr. Elwin Ransom is on a walking tour when he stumbles onto the house of a former schoolmate and a famous physicist. The two men abduct Ransom and take him on a spaceship to the planet Malacandra. Upon their arrival, Ransom is about to be sacrificed to an alien life form called the "sorns" when he flees and encounters other species of life on the planet. He is eventually drawn to the highest life form on the planet and must plead his cause hoping to escape back to earth.

The inside cover of the Scribner Classics edition I read touted, "In the many layers of its allegory, and the sophistication and piercing brilliance of its insights into the human condition, it occupies a place among the English language's most extraordinary works for any age, and for all time." It also says, "the Space Trilogy is rivaled in this century only by Tolkien's trilogy The Lord of the Rings." Hmm. Wishing I loved it as much as that.

The book held my attention and was accessible but didn't seem to get anywhere, apart from drawing conclusions about the opposition of good versus evil and the problem of sin (or "bent" individuals). Perhaps I was simply not in a good frame of mind to dig deeper, but the story left me as cold as the space Dr. Ransom encountered. I read the book to take part in The Deliberate Reader's on-line book club, so I will be interested to read the reactions of fellow readers in that group. Hopefully, they extracted much more from it than I did and will lead me to see the value of the book. Several Amazon reviewers indicated that the third book is the best by far, but do I have it in me to continue with the series long enough to get to book three? We shall see.

Book Review: I, Coriander

Several things attracted me to this audio selection, I Coriander, by Sally Gardner. First off, the cover art is gorgeous. Second, it promises an interview with the author at the end (I'm always a sucker for such things because I love to hear more about the process of writing from authors). As a tween read, I was certain it would be a clean read. Finally, I saw that it is read by Juliet Stevenson (you might know her from a few of her films Truly, Madly, Deeply, Bend It Like Beckham, or Mona Lisa Smile). Her narration is delightful.

Coriander Hobie sets out to tell her tale by the light of seven candles. Each candle's length provides a portion of her story. She tells of life with her mother and father, silver shoes that seemed to be made just for her, a stuffed alligator kept in her father's study, and a strange, enticing land full of magic and fairies. The fairy tale she shares is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats waiting to know what comes next.

The novel is set in London during the 17th century in a period of political unrest, but it bridges a gap between the real world and a more magical world of fairies. Although, I'm not generally drawn to fairy tales, this one was well-done. I loved the main character, Coriander. She has pluck and spunk and deals with the many unpleasantries that come her way.

I should note, however, that Christian parents might wish to listen to this tale alongside their offspring and use it as a discussion tool. The author paints religious people in a very bad light. The Puritan step-mother and her minister friend are quite despicable and evil, all while touting that they are serving God. While I don't dispute that Puritans often were legalistic and fanatical, a child listening to the story might get the impression that belief in God is obviously a bad thing and will lead to the abusive behaviors the Puritan characters demonstrate. I did enjoy the story and believe it is worth exploring, with some caution.

Book Review: The Girl Who Drank the Moon

I wanted to love this book. I really did. The cover is gorgeous, the idea is intriguing. and the endorsements are full of powerfully positive words ("spellbinding," "captivating," and "imaginative"). It is a New York Times bestseller and a Newbery winner. The Amazon page is full to the brim with accolades. I just can't bring myself to join the throngs.

I know there are friends of mine who would rave about The Girl Who Drank the Moon. People who love fairy tales, readers who enjoy fantastical stories, and lovers of magic will all be enthralled with it. I could imagine myself reading the book to an eager little girl (granddaughter perhaps, because I'm done in that department). But, the story never fully engaged me or pulled me in. Despite liking the portrayal of the little girl, I really struggled to care what happened to her because the story rambled and drifted aimlessly.

Living in the Protectorate sounds like it would be safe and cozy, doesn't it? But the whole idea of the Protectorate is held up by an annual sacrifice to the Witch in the dangerous forest around them. They hope that by offering up the youngest member, they will appease the thirst of the Witch. Thus, the story begins with a baby placed on a tree stump in the forest and left to its fate. The Witch does indeed come to take the baby, but falls in love with her and allows her to drink from the moon, thereby filling her with magic. That baby's mother is driven to madness and locked away in a tower. A young boy, training for a position as Elder, watches it all, convinced that something should be done to do away with this barbaric practice. So far, so good.

But, after that, the story begins to weave so poetic and allegorical that it began to bore me. Everything seems to be leading up to a climax, but it takes so long to get there and when things do finally come to a head (and I feared the girl would be mistaken for the witch and her throat slit - surely it couldn't end that way, I thought), it just sort of unravels and resolves quietly.

I felt hesitant about the undertones of the story. Was it poking fun at people who believe in a higher power, a God figure who works in mysterious ways? Was it mocking the idea of sacrifice? Why does the religious figure end up being the supreme evil entity? It felt like New Age philosophy triumphing over Christianity. Despite beautiful writing, I hesitantly read on, hoping for some form of redemption or some value to the story. Alas, I never found it. Am still confused by it, to be honest. Great potential, but sadly not a story to my tastes.