Fiction

The Magician’s Nephew

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The Book

This is the first book of the Chronicles of Narnia. It shows us; how Narnia begins, where the “witch” came from, the wardrobe and even explains the origins of the lamp pole at just outside the wardrobe.

The Magician's Nephew
The Magician’s Nephew

My Comments

What a fun book! Not my favorite of C.S. Lewis but I still enjoyed it. The last time I read the story, I was in 3rd grade so I don’t remember much of the story. So, it was like experiencing it new all again.

Recommendations

Great book and worth the time to read it. I would recommend it to everyone!

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

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The Book

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a follow on to the very popular Harry Potter series of books. It isn’t really much more than a list of creatures from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

My Comments

The last book I read was such a downer, I wanted to read something a little more lighthearted. One can never go wrong with J.K. Rowling! While the topic was tiresome after plowing through cover to cover, there was always a bit of her playful humor in the pages. I particularly loved the introduction.

I read the wrong Harry Potter series at least 4 times during a particularly hard year in graduate school. The books I was assigned were dense reading so I found myself wanting something light and silly. These books always fit that bill and were always a pleasure to read. I’m glad to say this book was no different.

Recommendation

It’s a good book and I had a great time reading it. However, I don’t know if that would be true of many others. Read the Harry Potter standard works before you try this. That will make it all make more sense…

Uncommon Type: Some Stories

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Background

Uncommon Type is a collection of seventeen short stories written by actor Tom Hanks and published in 2017. Each story revolves around the theme of typewriters, but they cover a wide range of topics such as love, fame, relationships, and death.

Uncommon Type
Uncommon Type

My Comments

I really enjoyed the book. The stories good down as an easy read and I found I didn’t get bored but would prefer to plow on. Each story is loosely connected by Mr. Hanks’ signature Americana feel. His clean cut, boy next door persona was contrasted by the strong language. For some reason, I wasn’t expecting that.

Also, throughout the stories, in a supporting role, was a typewriter. There was enough romancing of typewriters in this book, it almost made me want to go out and buy one. I did learn how to type on them but I was more than happy to give up the clack for the soft glow of a computer screen.

Recommendations

I believe if you like Tom Hanks, you will like the book. I love Tom Hanks and so I loved the book.

The Screwtape Letters

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Background

C.S. Lewis wrote The Screwtape Letters well before I was born. They are a collection of letters from Screwtape (a demon in hell’s administration office) to his wayward nephew Wormwood. Wormwood is given charge of a man on earth and despite Screwtape’s ‘advice’, loses him to salvation.

The Screwtape Letters
The Screwtape Letters

My thoughts

I first read this about 25 years ago. I remember it putting me in a bad mood. I felt very carnal minded after I read it. I think I wasn’t quite up the challenge of understanding what was really being said by Lewis. (Perhaps I needed a few years behind me…)

I really enjoyed the read this time. Of course, much of Screwtape’s advice is meant to be taken opposite from what he said but there were some real truths given. So much of this world is taken for granted. So much of my comforts and relative ease come so easily as to be forgotten where they came from.

I came away from this book wanting to be a better man. There isn’t much more I can ask for…

Recommendation

Even if you are a hormone stricken teenager (like I was the first time I’d read this), I would encourage everyone to read this book. It is not only witty and contains a good story, it will also given you things to think about for years to come.