C. S. Lewis
From the publisher: “ In this book, Lewis tells of his search for joy, a spiritual journey that led him from the Christianity of his early youth into atheism and then back to Christianity.”
From me: It’s hard to believe, what with my general respect and awe for everything of Lewis’ I’ve ever read, that it’s taken me this long to read this book. It’s also hard to believe the level of disappointment I felt upon completing it. Yes, it has some very quotable quotes within its covers, but there were also vast passages that were filled with Britishisms, literary references, and allusions to mythology that I was completely unfamiliar with; so much so as to make them empty of meaning for me.
Page 56/Sentence 5: [Oops! I’m recreating this mini-review after having returned the book to the library.]
John Eldredge
"Reading the Gospels without knowing the personality of Jesus is like watching television with the sound turned off. The effect is a dry, two-dimensional person saying strange, undecipherable things. But when we discover his true character - this man who made the wind, music, and flying squirrels - suddenly all of the remarkable qualities of Jesus burst forth with color and brilliance like fireworks."
It’s not often that a book lives up to the publisher’s blurb on the dust cover, but this one does! I was absolutely refreshed and actually revived as Eldredge not only demonstrated different character traits of Jesus that usually get ignored by both scholars and critics, but gave a vision of what our lives can be like when we walk through life completely dependent on the fully-rounded person of Christ. INGEST THIS BOOK!
56/5: The wave I’m fixed upon crashes to the sand like a work of art toppling from its pedestal, but before I can feel the loss another is rushing to take its place, sweeping upward, forward, utterly mesmerizing beauty.
Caseen Gaines
"For the first time ever, the story of how two young filmmakers struck lightning is being told by those who witnessed it. WDNR includes original interviews with Bobs Zemeckis and Gale, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Huey Lewis, and more than fifty others who contributed to one of the most popular film trilogies of all time....the ultimate read for anyone who has ever wanted to ride a hoverboard, hang from the top of a clock tower, travel through the space-time continuum, or find out what really happened to Eric Stoltz after the first six weeks of filming."
Oh look...two books in a row that deliver on the cover’s promise! For real, though, this is one of the most interesting behind-the-scenes movie bios I’ve ever read. When I finished it, I wanted to immediately watch the trilogy in one sitting.
56/5: For example, the first time the audience sees Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future is in a close-up of the actor with guitar in hand and reflective aviator sunglasses, epitomizing teenage male coolness circa 1985.
Craig Johnson
“After 25 years as sheriff of Absaroka County, Walt Longmire’s hopes of finishing out his tenure in peace are dashed....Somebody, it would seem, is seeking vengeance, and now Longmire might be the only thing standing between the [potential victims] and a Sharps .45-70 rifle.”
Having thoroughly enjoyed watching the A & E/Netflix series based on Johnson’s Walt Longmire mysteries, and having met the author’s wife at her boutique in Wyoming, I was really looking forward to reading this; the first novel in the series. And I was not disappointed in the least. There’s a true sense of place, along with characters that are fully human and undeniably interesting. I’m looking forward to borrowing more of the books from the library.
56/5: I thought about it.
