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Brief comments on three books that I have read recently:

Ford County: Stories
John Grisham
DoubleDay, 2009
My Rating: *

I should have loved this book. I have always thought that Grisham’s best book was his first (A Time to Kill), which was set in Ford County, Mississippi. I also love short stories. So when I heard that Grisham was turning his attention back to Ford County and that he was trying his hand at short stories, my interest was piqued.

Unfortunately, Grisham seems bent on displaying the absolute worst side of Southern life. I didn’t even finish this book. The first story alone takes readers into some of the seediest sites of Mississippi. Grisham tries to be funny and to make a point, but he fails on both counts. Don’t waste your money.

Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without FearFearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear
Max Lucado
Thomas Nelson, 2009
My Rating: *** 1/2

Max Lucado may not be the most theologically profound writer on the market, and his Arminian theological persuasion may cause readers of this blog to raise a Reformed eyebrow, but I believe evangelical pastors should read his books. Why? Lucado is a brilliant communicator. A master of words, Max knows how to paint pictures and get across his point in ways that anyone can understand.

Fearless may not be Lucado’s best book, but the power of his pen is still on full display. Fearless contains plenty of good illustrations and spiritual insight. The best chapter is the last, in which Max describes “fear of God.” He asks:

“How long since you felt this fear? Since a fresh understanding of Christ buckled your knees and emptied your lungs? Since a glimpse of him left you speechless and breathless? If it’s been a while, that explains your fears. When Christ is great, our fears are not. As awe of Jesus expands, fears of life diminish. A big God translates into big courage. A small view of God generates no courage.” (169)

That Hideous Strength (Space Trilogy, Book 3)That Hideous Strength (Space Trilogy, Book 3)
C.S. Lewis
Scribner, 1945
My Rating: ** 1/2

In 2004, I decided to begin reading through C.S. Lewis’ “Space Trilogy.” I loved the first book, Out of the Silent Planet. Lewis turned upside down my expectations, as he imagined how sin would affect (or not affect) life on other planets. In 2005, I read the second book in the series, Perelandra. While I did not enjoy the second as much as the first, I recognized and appreciated Lewis’ literary genius in recasting the Adam and Eve story.

It took four years to get around to the third book in Lewis’ trilogy. That Hideous Strength is quite different than the first two. All the action takes place on Earth. The book is about twice as long as the others. And the main character from the other books doesn’t appear until midway through the story. This work reminds me of 1984, except that it starts out much slower and ends up with an explicitly Christian interpretation. I enjoyed parts of this book, particularly the ways in which Lewis pointed out the ease with which men of the academy can be led astray by the desire for popularity. But That Hideous Strength was my least favorite of the trilogy.

 

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