Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This was the first book I ever purchased from Amazon. When I first received it, I was skeptical about the quality of the book since there weren't any illustrations or charts which you normally expect from a reference guide. In fact, that is the only real complaint I have about this book.
Even so, Hogwarts, Narnia, and Middle-Earth: Places Upon A Time is a very insightful book written by an author who has spent the better part of his life studying religion. In fact, the premise of the book seems to draw heavily on the comparitive qualities of the three books from a theological viewpoint. I must say that the author really understands the innerworkings of the heretofore mentioned works of J.K. Rowlings, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien. I learned so much from this book it made me go back and read Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Lord of the Rings with a new set of eyes.
With that said, this book isn't for everyone. The book could stand be a little longer and would have been greatly improved by enlarging the discussion to include other books from the fantasy genre. However, if you are the type of person who enjoys literary criticism, if only to discover what scholars think about your favorite books, then this one is for you.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Hogwarts, Narnia, and Middle Earth: Places Upon a Time
This little book is a think-piece for adult readers who grew up with (or have been captured by) the fantasy worlds of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and J. K. Rowling.Rob Smith points out general themes in the work of these three authors and matches them to the ancient motifs of the biblical writings.The result is a discussion about the way in which we look at time, place, and the meaning of being human.The focus is less an explanation of the stories than a jumping off place to discuss our presuppositions about these important life matters. Rob Smith is an ordained Presbyterian minister who served thirty-one years in congregations before accepting a full time position teaching religion and philosophy at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.There he taught a course entitled The Life, Religion, and Fiction of C.S. Lewis.His familiarity with Lewis, Tolkien, and the other Inklings gives him a unique insight to this literature.His background in biblical studies also brings credibility to this work.
Click here for more information about Hogwarts, Narnia, and Middle Earth: Places Upon a Time
0 comments:
Post a Comment