The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
Chronologically the sixth book of the Chronicles of Narnia series. This is one of my favorites of the series. The backstory about the queens death and the princes disappearance makes a great catalyst for the story. Puddleglum’s character, though always entertaining in his pessimism, seems at first to be rather thin but towards the end takes on some unexpected dimension. And I love the sense of foreboding when the children and Puddleglum are in the giants castle, Harfang.
The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis
The Last Battle may be my favorite of the series, though probably also the most obvious in its theological flaws.
Towards the end, it embraces the beauty of strange and somewhat abstract imagery, much like the Magician’s Nephew did in describing the creation of the world, though in this case it is describing its end.
I think I am most moved by this book’s echo of a typically unspoken hope of Christianity. Namely, that everything will end well in our universe.
Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton
I remember reading G.K. Chesterton’s The Man Who Was Thursday some years ago. I don’t think I understood one word of it. Thankfully, I understood the majority of Orthodoxy.
Chesterton offers some sharp, witty criticisms of the popular philosophies of his day, all of which I recognized as being popular in some form today. This made the book very relevant which was surprising since it was written in 1908.
Towards the middle of the book, Chesterton begins to talk more personally about the ideas he struggled with as a skeptical agnostic that ultimately led to his conversion. A thoughtful book that challenges Christian and Agnostic alike.
Animal Farm by Orson Wells
This book is in no need of my accolades. I’m sure its status as a classic work of literature it thoroughly cemented.
For those of you who have not read it; it is about a small farm where the animals overthrow the farmer and begin to rule themselves. It’s a simple enough story for a child to enjoy(which my children did) but complex enough to for an adult to ponder how a political systems fail.
Ultimately, it shows something that Christian orthodoxy has always taught, everyone and every political system is capable of corruption. Original Sin is alive and well in all our hearts.
