C.S. Lewis
The Great Divorce (1946)
Author: C.S. Lewis
Genre (Subgenre): Christian/Fantasy
Plot Summary:
The narrator of this story takes an unusual bus ride with a group of tourists from a bus stop on a rainy evening in Hell to a bright sunshiny morning on the outskirts of Heaven. Unlike those with whom he is traveling, he is a resident of neither place, and views the entire trip as a spectator. He and his fellow voyagers are not completely acclimated to Heaven spiritually or physically. They do not fit in because they do not totally accept it. However, the narrator travels around the prairie of Heaven and watches as many of his traveling companions justify their denial of God and love. They refuse to accept the continual and affectionate offers of eternity in paradise that are given by the angels and the inhabitants of heaven. SPOILER: The narrator eventually realizes that he is only dreaming and upon waking he is forbidden by God to repeat that he has seen Heaven since it would be proof for people on earth that it exists and would soften the risk of their faiths.
Geographical Setting: Hell and Heaven
Time Period: Not indicated
Appeal Characteristics:
This story has a much heavier emphasis on spirituality and theology than on the mystical plot. The creative allegories and symbols that are used throughout are not hidden but seem to be intended as clues to a better understanding of Heaven, Hell, God, and mankind. Good versus evil is an obvious theme. A lot of profound conversation and a mysterious situation move the reader quickly through the story.
Read-alikes: Bill Myer's Soul Tracker could be a good read alike for someone who wants to read more about afterlife and how it relates to Christian Theology. Anyone who wants to read about supernatural beings acting against man would be interested in reading Frank Peretti's This Present Darkness. George McDonald was a role model of C.S. Lewis and is even mentione in . At the Back of the North Wind is a book written by George McDonald that is also about good vs. evil and has allegories of heaven and hell. A person who is looking for Christian themed books about supernatural beings and their effect on people would be interested in L.A. Marzulli's Nephilim and another book by C.S. Lewis titled The Screwtape Letters. Charles William's Descent into Hell is also about humans descending into Hell because of their desicions in life on earth.
Red Flags: none
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (1950)
Author: C.S. Lewis
Genre: Christian/Fantasy
Plot Summary:
Four siblings--Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter--are sent to live with a relative in the English countryside to escape the Nazi bombing of London. Soon after arriving, Lucy stumbles into a large wardrobe while playing a game of hide-and-seek. Moving back deeper into the wardrobe, Lucy finds that she has somehow made her way into a snow-covered forest. Near an old lamppost she meets a faun named Mr. Tumnus. Mr. Tumnus takes her back to his home with the intention of turning Lucy over to the evil White Witch. However, he has a change of heart and allows Lucy to return to the wardrobe. At first, Lucy’s siblings do not believe her, but eventually Edmund stumbles after her. They are separated, and Edmund meets the White Witch, who considers herself Queen of Narnia, the magical land which Lucy and Edmund have discovered. She tempts Edmund to bring all of his siblings to Narnia for a dastardly plot. Eventually, all four make it into Narnia and Peter, Susan, and Lucy are betrayed by Edmund. However, there is a more powerful force in Narnia, Aslan. Aslan is a Christ-figure in opposition to the White Witch. SPOILER: While Aslan’s arrival in Narnia after a long absence seems to herald the end of the White Witch’s reign, Aslan deigns to sacrifice himself to atone for the treachery of Edmund. All seems lost, but there is deeper magic at work. Aslan is resurrected and comes to the aid of the good folk of Narnia and defeats the White Witch.
Geographical Location: English countryside, Narnia
Time Period: 1940s
Series: part of Lewis’ 7-book series The Chronicles of Narnia. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was the first published, but recently the publisher has been promoting them in the chronological order of the story rather that the order in which the books were published. Personally, I prefer to read the books in the order in which they were published.
Appeal Characteristics:
More children’s novel than strict adult fare, the Narnia books maintain ageless appeal. Lewis’ tale definitely contains Christian themes (despite his statements to the contrary). In that respect, these books are often recommended to children as a way of cleverly introducing them to Christian themes. The books are all short and quick-paced. Lewis’ writing style is very economical, and, unlike his friend and contemporary J.R.R. Tolkien, Lewis does not bog his story down in history and geography. I feel that this first book may be the weakest of the seven, but I read them as a child and recently as a 30-something, and still found myself enjoying this magical tale--despite its Christian overtones.
Similar Authors:
Try the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling, The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman, The Circle of Magic by Tamora Pierce, the Redwall series by Brian Jacques, So You Want to Be a Wizard by Diane Duane, Half Magic by Edward Eager, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, James & the Giant Peach or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, the Young Merlin trilogy by Jane Yolen, The Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander, or Holes by Louis Sachar.
Red Flags: shameless promotion of the English confection Turkish Delight.
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