Combing the Net – 5/9/2012

What Maurice Sendak Can Teach the Church — I believe wholeheartedly that Christians can and should read non-Christian literature, because it has much to teach us. (In fact, an entire chapter was devoted to this topic in Tony Reinke’s Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books, which I reviewed earlier this week.) In this article, Russell Moore gives us an example of how we can learn from good books that speak to the human condition like Where the Wild Things Are, even when they are written by a thoroughly foul author like Sendak.

Twelve Legions — Of course, it’s also good to read and learn from literature by Christian authors! This blog post is a great application of Matthew 26:53 which also references the battle at Helm’s Deep from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Two Towers.

An Unforgettable Evening With N.T. Wright — One thing that has greatly influenced my own interaction with and appreciation of literature has been the online community at The Rabbit Room. This cohort of authors and songwriters — brought together by Andrew Peterson — has organized several events the celebrate and learn from great authors. Last fall, I attended one of these events, and had the opportunity to chat with several Rabbit Roomers after watching a play by G.K. Chesterton. Monday night, the group hosted an evening with Bishop N.T. Wright, one of the most prominent theologians of our time. I am pretty jealous of those who were able to attend! Apparently, theologizing isn’t Tom Wright’s only talent, as we see here in his performance of a tune by Bob Dylan:

Book Review: Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books

“Lit! A Christian Guide to Reading Books” by Tony Reinke

When I first saw the title of this book, I thought, “If ever there was a book written just for me, this is it!“

I was wrong.

Tony Reinke’s guide to reading is a book with MUCH broader appeal than just bibliophiles like me. The back cover states that this is a book for those who love to read, hate to read, don’t have time to read, read only Christian books, aren’t good at reading, or can’t decide what to read. It seems like that covers just about everyone, and I believe that he has successfully written a book that will engage and instruct readers and non-readers alike.

The book is divided into two parts: “A Theology of Books and Reading” and “Some Practical Advice on Book Reading”. In both sections, Reinke writes with a contagious passion for reading that will benefit and encourage experienced readers without intimidating or alienating novices — not an easy task!

While I agree with Reinke’s ordering of the book in such a way that the theological foundation precedes the practical application (moving from the universals to the particulars), I think that one of his practical tips will be helpful to include early in the review to provide a context for the rest. In chapter 8, he suggests that one of the first things a reader should do before beginning a book is to examine what Mortimer Adler called the “skeleton” of a book by reading the table of contents to get a general sense of where a book is going. As it was largely the logical progression of thought in this book’s table of contents that persuaded me to purchase it, let me share it with you:

1. Paper Pulp and Etched Granite — Laying the Cornerstone of Our Theology of Books
2. Wide-Eyed Into the Son — How Personal Sin and the Gospel Shape Our Literacy
3. Reading Is Believing — Savoring Books in an Eye-Candy Culture
4. Reading from Across the Canyon — How a Biblical Worldview Equips Us to Benefit from Books
5. The Giver’s Voice — Seven Benefits of Reading Non-Christian Books
6. The God Who Slays Dragons — The Purifying Power of Christian Imagination
7. Read With Resolve — Six Priorities That Decide What Books I Read (and Don’t Read)
8. How to Read a Book — 20 Tips and Tricks for Reading Nonfiction Books
9. Literature Is Life — Tapping into the Benefits of Fiction Literature
10. Too Busy to Read — Six Ways to Find (and Protect) the Time You Need to Read Books
11. Driven to Distraction — How Internet Habits Cripple Book Reading
12. Marginalia — The Fine Art of Defacing Books with Pencils, Pens, and Highlighters
13. Reading Together — Building Community One Book at a Time
14. Raising Readers — How Parents and Pastors Can Ignite in Others a Love for Book Reading
15. Happily Ever After — Five Marks of a Healthy Book Reader

I benefited personally in some way from every single chapter in this book, though there were a few highlights that I especially appreciated. First and foremost was Reinke’s insistence that book reading not replace Scripture reading in our priorities. This is something that is a constant temptation for me, and of which I cannot be reminded too many times! I am also glad that he never assumes that readers of his book are operating under the same definition of “gospel” that he is. Chapter 2 clearly and concisely lays out a  beautiful presentation of the gospel, so that by it, we may read books “with unveiled faces” (cf., 2 Corinthians 3:14-18).

Chapter 6 was a particularly enjoyable one for me, reminding me that my imagination is a wonderful gift from God! Agreeing with authors like Lewis and Tolkien that Story is one of the primary ways that God reveals himself, Reinke turns to the book of Revelation to demonstrate the inseparable connection between imagination and theology.

In the second part of the book, the chapter on Internet habits was easily the most convicting. I am keenly aware of how easily my free time is eaten up by my laptop and smartphone, but less obvious — and possibly more damaging — are the ways that social media, sports, and other distractions reduce the effectiveness of the time I do spend reading books. This is a chapter I am likely to re-read repeatedly.

I also greatly appreciated Reinke’s thoughts on instilling a love of reading in my children, and among others within my sphere of influence. Many of his suggestions — such as reading the Bible and other books to my kids at night, and leading a book reading group with college students from my church — are things I’m already doing, but which I will do far better as a result of reading this book. Other tips are ideas that had never occurred to me but which I can’t wait to try! For example, Reinke asks his children to mark their five favorite pages in each book they read, bring them to the dinner table, and explain them in context to the rest of the family. I absolutely love this family tradition! This is something I would really like to implement with my own children when they get a little older.

One question I had asked of Lit! before I started reading it was whether there would be anything substantially improved or different from other great books on thinking and reading such as Mortimer Adler’s How to Read a Book and Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death. While Reinke does quote heavily from both books (and many others on the topic), I’m happy to report that his book really is worthy to sit on the bookshelf next to those. In addition to the emphasis on a Christian worldview (which both Adler and Postman lacked), Lit! builds on the practical wisdom of earlier writers and addresses many contemporary challenges of which they never dreamed.

If you want to learn how to read better, read more frequently, or choose books more wisely, then I heartily recommend this book to you. If you don’t want to do any of those things, then I hope you’ll at least give this book a shot at convincing you why you should! You won’t regret it.

Buy it here.

What Then Shall We Read?

After spending much of last week reflecting on The Hunger Games — which ended up producing a trilogy of blog posts (read parts 1, 2, and 3) — I thought today I might direct readers of this blog toward some fiction that I really like!

Of course, there are many GREAT pieces of literature that could go on a list like this, but, outside of the first couple I’ll list, I’m going to try to concentrate on some more recent fiction (though I personally prefer older books most of the time) that are wonderful despite being less familiar. Please do not take this as a list of things you should read in place of classics like Moby Dick or Huckleberry Finn. Think of this as more of a summer supplemental reading list for teens and preteens who want to read a good story with a “contemporary” feel.

Also, though most of the authors listed here are Christians, almost none of the content of the books is explicitly Christian, or even allegorically “Christian”. They are simply good stories, which are perfectly able to come from non-Christians as well.

Without further ado, here are some authors I love, and some of their fiction you and your kids will enjoy:

C.S. Lewis

If you don’t know about The Chronicles of Narnia, it’s time to crawl out from the rock you’ve been living under your whole life. But if your kids haven’t read it, get it in their hands immediately! I read the set for the first time in (I think) fourth grade, but have probably read them at least six times since then. They get better each time! This is my favorite illustrated edition, though the first picture displayed is not the correct cover (the “customer images” are correct). Deeper thinkers may also enjoy Planet Narnia: The Seven Heavens in the Imagination of C.S. Lewis by Michael Ward, and What I Learned in Narnia by Douglas Wilson.

Less familiar is Lewis’ “Space Trilogy”. They aren’t as “kid-friendly” as the Narnia books, but I still enjoyed them. Check out Out of the Silent Planet (my review), Perelandra(my review), and That Hideous Strength (my review).

Another good piece of fiction by Lewis is Til We Have Faces, his retelling of the story of Cupid and Psyche from classical Greek mythology.

J.R.R. Tolkien

The other series that everyone knows but which I consider an absolute “must read” (which I also tackled for the first time in 4th grade) is The Lord of the Rings (including the prequel, The Hobbit). As with Narnia, there are dozens of books about LOTR, though many are not that good. My favorite (so far) is The Philosophy of Tolkien by Peter Kreeft (my review). Fans of the series should also check out The Silmarillion and Tolkien’s translations of three epic poems including Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.

G.K. Chesterton

Chesterton was a turn-of-the-century (the 20th, that is) author who wrote a lot of great non-fiction, but what I love best are his mystery books. My personal favorites are The Man Who Was Thursday (my review) and the Father Brown Mysteries.

Andrew Peterson

Peterson has long been one of my favorite songwriters, but now he has also become one of my favorite novelists. His first fiction series is a work-in-progress, with the final book of the “Wingfeather Saga” due out later this year. Until then, get caught up by reading On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (my review), North! Or Be Eaten (my review), and The Monster in the Hollows (my review).

For a great example of how music can be used to tell a story, check out his Behold the Lamb of God album, which I’ve also reviewed.

N.D. Wilson

Here’s an author whose fiction I’ve only recently discovered (though I’ve been hearing of its greatness for some time). I should have expected nothing less than great writing from the son of Douglas Wilson (whose new satirical novel Evangellyfish is on my to-read list). The younger Wilson has authored the “100 Cupboards” trilogy, which consists of 100 Cupboards, Dandelion Fire, and The Chestnut King. My review of this trilogy will be coming soon.

He’s also written a standalone novel called Leepike Ridge, and The Dragon’s Tooth, the first book in a new trilogy (which I’ve decided not to read until all three books are published).

Walter Wangerin

It’s rare that I’ve enjoyed the act of reading as much as I do reading Wangerin’s books. I just love the way he uses words… it’s like the sentences and phrases themselves produce some kind of tangible sensation that is addicting. My favorite is The Book of the Dun Cow (my review), which somehow makes the life of a rooster really exciting… seriously! He’s also done some really interesting novelizations of the Bible, including The Book of God, Jesus: A Novel, and Paul: A Novel (my review).

Richard Adams

Another master of the “beast fable”, Adams has written a modern classic called Watership Down (my review). It’s one of my favorites, and I’ve recently converted my wife and her sister to Watership fandom as well. Adams wrote a sequel called Tales From Watership Down, but it’s not nearly as good as the original. The Plague Dogs (review coming) is much better, and often called “the true sequel to Watership Down“.

J.K. Rowling

I thought I’d round out this list by re-affirming my love for the Harry Potter series. I don’t place them on the same level as the books at the top of this list, but I really do think they are great stories. Rather than going into detail about why, I’ll refer you to this article by Andrew Peterson (the same Andrew Peterson mentioned above), whose thoughts mirror my own. For deeper thinking about the HP books, check out John Granger (no relation to Hermione), the Hogwarts Professor. Whether you like the movies or (like me) hate them, I also recommend The Harry Potter Bible Study (my review), which gives a good blueprint for how to watch movies critically.

Your Recommendations?

Obviously, this list could go on and on. These are just some highlights of things I’ve read and enjoyed in the last couple years. What are some of your favorites?

P.S. — If, like me, you enjoy reading about reading, you should definitely get Tony Reinke’s Lit! A Christian’s Guide to Reading Books. I’ve only just gotten it, but already can tell it’s going to be awesome! I’ll have a review published when I finish.

Book Review: On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness

“On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness: The Wingfeather Saga, Book One” by Andrew Peterson

Andrew Peterson has long been one of my very favorite singer/songwriters. His lyrics possess both depth and whimsy, a combination that is rare among Christian artists. He has also shown a proclivity for conveying rich spiritual truths in his music using familiar language from popular fantasy novels by Christian artists such as the Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings (particularly in his album “The Far Country”). So when I found out he was writing a series of fantasy novels himself, my interest was piqued.

What I encountered in this first entry to the “Wingfeather Saga” was a fun-filled yarn that was a pure pleasure to read. Peterson is a first-rate storyteller, and this is sure to be a book that will be enjoyed by many a young reader (and a few old ones, too).

Though it got off to a bit of a slow start (then again, so did The Fellowship of the Ring…), I quickly found myself completely wrapped up in the story and, more importantly, in the characters. The action focuses on the adventures of the Igiby children: Janner, Tink, and Leeli. Through his engaging writing style, Peterson quickly allows the reader to become invested in these children. Their personalities are very well-developed, as are those of the secondary characters; no two-dimensional caricatures here!

While the story itself is engaging (I won’t spoil it for you by revealing too much of the plot, but the teaser on the cover will perhaps whet your appetite: “Adventure. Peril. Lost Jewels. And the Fearsome Toothy Cows of Skree.”), the real strength of this book is the way it incorporates a lot of teachable moments that touch on some serious real-life issues. This book was written for children, but especially to be read to children by adults (The language of the book lends itself particularly well to out-loud reading).

In addition to the more serious themes such as trust, forgiveness, and the providence of God (or “The Maker”, in the book), there were a few things I especially enjoyed in Peterson’s writing. One of these is the way he makes books themselves so fun. Peterson, like me, is an avid bookworm, and this love of books is instilled in nearly every chapter of this novel. “Books and Crannies”, the bookstore frequented by the Igiby boys, is a place filled with deep mystery and a sense of adventure. Salvaging (and reading) old books is portrayed as one of the noblest deeds a hero can do. I was also fond of the “boyness” of the boys in the story. This novel doesn’t take itself too seriously, and is not afraid to be irreverent (though never crass), the way little boys often are. Face it: Sometimes boogers are hilarious!

The only thing that keeps this from being a 5-star story is the sometimes awkward use of language, especially in the names of characters and places. One of the things that made LOTR so great is the fact that J.R.R. Tolkien was such a great linguist. He didn’t just invent and name characters; he invented entire languages! When he named characters and places, there was a sense of history in the consistency of fantastic names. This is one of the great weaknesses in many books in the fantasy genre, as such linguistic genius is exceptionally rare.

However, Peterson does an admirable job of lending depth to his fantasy world in many other unique ways, most prominently in his use of footnotes. Throughout the novel, he has incorporated notes that provide historical commentary on many of the locations, creatures, and people mentioned. While these notes usually have little to no relevance to the main plot line, the many citations of “scholarly” works set in this fictional world are an interesting way to create a sense of antiquity for “Aerwiar”, much in the way of the languages of Middle Earth or the ruins of Narnia. These footnotes are also dripping with the tongue-in-cheek sarcasm characteristic of the way Peterson tells stories in his live concerts.

I am looking forward very much to the sequel, “North! Or Be Eaten!”, which I’ll probably read this week. Even more, I am looking forward to the day I can read this book to my own son in a few years! Buy it here.

Why There Is No Jewish Narnia

I came across a pretty interesting article this morning, investigating why no Jewish authors have taken advantage of the allegorical fantasy fiction genre the way that several Christian authors have done. It’s a long read, but anyone who has an interest in fantasy novels will find it pretty interesting. In case you haven’t got time to read the whole thing, here’s a highlight:

“When he wrote the Narnia books, Lewis drew deeply from his Christian beliefs. In this, he and the many Christian fantasy writers have an advantage over not only the few, largely assimilated Jewish fantasy writers, but even over a deeply knowledgeable and religiously committed Jewish writer who might seek to create a work of fantasy dramatizing Judaism in the way that the various Narnia books dramatize Christianity. The Jewish difficulty with fantasy is not only historical and sociological. It is theological as well, and this has to do with the degree to which Judaism has banished the magical and mythological elements necessary for fantasy.

To put it crudely, if Christianity is a fantasy religion, then Judaism is a science fiction religion. If the former is individualistic, magical, and salvationist, the latter is collective, technical, and this-worldly. Judaism’s divine drama is connected with a specific people in a specific place within a specific history. Its core is not, I think, convincingly represented in fantasy allegory. In its rabbinic elaboration, even the messianic idea is shorn of its mythic and apocalyptic potential. Whereas fantasy grows naturally out of Christian soil, Judaism’s more adamant separation from myth and magic render classic elements of the fantasy genre undeveloped or suspect in the Jewish imaginative tradition.”

Read the rest of the article here.

It is pretty interesting to think on this. Jews have essentially rejected Christ because they see the Christian understanding of Christ’s fulfillment of God’s promises to be fantasy. The miracles He performed — culminating in His resurrection from the dead — are truly fantastic! May our imaginations ever be stirred when we consider God’s wondrous works (Psalm 106:7)! May we declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among the nations (Psalm 96:3)!

(HT: Trevin Wax)