arslectoris rated this book 5 of 5 Stars.
'Treasures of the Snow' is a classic children's story that well deserves to be read and re-read not only by children, but by adults as well! The simple yet dramatic unfolding of a tale of fear,betrayal, and forgiveness is set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Swiss Alps. Miss St. John was a masterful writer who skillfully brought to life a story about a young boy, desperately lonely, who through one act of thoughtless cruelty brought upon his head the wrath and disdain of an entire village. Shunned by everyone, he flees to the solitude of the woods, where he meets the eccentric old village hermit, whom no one knows anything about... some say he is a murderer, or a thief, or just crazy. Yet to Lucien he is a friend. Watch this unlikely friendship unfold, and the amazing consequences to which it leads! I would highly recommend this book; it is not only a memorable story, engaging, direct, and fully of glorious Alpine beauty, but it is also a beautiful portrayal of the Gospel at work in the hearts of boys and girls, transforming their lives and redeeming their broken hearts.
arslectoris rated this book 5 of 5 Stars.
'Rainbow Garden' is a childhood favorite; I've read it over and over again. Set in misty Wales in the 1960s (when Miss St. John wrote it), it is the story of a lonely young girl who is sent by her busy socialite mother to live with country relatives. Elaine arrives, a bitter and self-absorbed child, at the noisy, busy parsonage full of dogs, babies, singing, and muddy shoes. Elaine slowly discovers the joy the suffuses the household, and that it stems from the Book that they all read around the dinner table every night. She wants to be one of them; but when she steals something in order to gain their admiration, she realizes that she has only alienated herself further from them... where will she find the love and security she longs for? A sweet, endearing story of a lost child who finds safety and peace in the Savior who saves lost sheep. Read this book and you will never forget that 'in His presence is fullness of joy'. Higly recommended!
arslectoris rated this book 5 of 5 Stars.
'Star of Light' is a unique child's book, set in Morocco and telling the story of a poor goat-herder and his blind baby sister who must flee from a wicked stepfather. Their journey takes them over the mountain and into the great city where the missionary lady lives, the one who loves children because Jesus loves them. Left on her step, the little blind girl is taken into her care and given food, beautiful clothes, and love-- but when the stepfather arrives in town, there is danger for both of the children. This story is fascinating, being based on Miss St. John's real-life experiences as a missionary in Morocco, and so it gives a realistic and intimate glimpse into the life, customs, and ideas of another culture, and the way in which it clashes with our own; and yet she is able to winsomely show the way in which both the street beggars of Morocco and the rich, well-fed child who visits need the Gospel of Jesus Christ to bring light into their lives. A favorite!
arslectoris rated this book 5 of 5 Stars.
"My intention is to portray a truly beautiful soul," said Dostoevsky of Prince Myshkin, the hero of The Idiot. And suceed he did, in embodying kindness, selflessness, and disinterested generosity in the Prince. So why is Prince Myshkin called "an idiot" by the upper-class Petersburg society in which he has just entered at the beginning of this tale? Is it simply because he suffers from epilepsy and has just returned from a sanatorium in Switzerland? Or because those around him cannot understand how anyone in their right mind could possibly be as unconcerned about self-seeking and worldy gain as he is? This story chronicles Prince Myshkin's brief but tragic career among his compatriots, and is a painful witness to the total incompatibility of goodness with the corruption of the world as we know it.Written in Dostoevsky's uniquely intense and introspective style, it is a searching exploration of the hearts and motives of men, both good and evil, and a moving portrait of both the touching effect of Prince Myshkin's goodness on those around him and the stunning refusal of so many to accept his goodness, or to even tolerate it. This book includes many of Dostoevsky's remarkably insightful observations and prophecies on the direction in which the world of his time was heading, into the existentialism of the twentieth century. Of special interest to Dostoevsky fans will be the many autobiographical details Dostoevsky included in it, including a detailed account of his well-known near-execution, his experiences with epilepsy, and the famous Holbein painting of the crucified Christ which impacted him so profoundly. A fascinating and worthwile read!
arslectoris rated this book 5 of 5 Stars.
Not for the faint of heart, The Brothers Karamazov is a massive book in volume, content and vocabulary- but it will most certainly reward the reader who puts forth the effort to comprehend this book, and only improves upon subsequent readings. It sweeps you up in a whirlwind of emotionally charged events that can, at times, be overwhelming as it both dregs the depths of human evil and soars to the heights of human charity. Blinding in its brilliance and bewildering in its scope, despite its 900+ pages this book is truly worth a second reading, as the first reading is necessary to understand the complex storyline and it is really upon the second go that you can begin to unravel the philosophical threads of which this tangled tale is made. As a philosophical novel it is one of the most famous- "The Grand Inquisitor" is one of the most well-known individual chapters in all of literature. It will well re-pay all thought bestowed upon its explorations of life, death, and the existence of God triple-fold, giving back far more thoughts than you put into it. To sum up, my recommendation is: by all means, read this book, and by all means, read it twice!
arslectoris rated this book 5 of 5 Stars.
"Till We Have Faces" is my very favourite of the many excellent C. S. Lewis works I have read. On the surface, it is a retelling of the classic Greek myth of Psyche and Cupid, but in Lewis's capable hands it takes on far greater depth and signifigance- using the form of the myth, he creates a beautiful story of one woman's journey into bitterness and despair, and beyond it into joy. There are many striking themes woven into this tale, but the one that most impressed itself upon me was the question asked at the very end of the book, "how can we see the gods face-to-face until we have faces?" In other words, how can we understand God unless we are like Him? We are not like Him; He would not be God if we were- so how can we judge Him? We cannot judge Him; He is the one who judges us, and until we understand that, we are like the main character in this book, wandering bitterly in the dark because we will not accept the light on God's terms. Till We Have Faces is an incredible illustration of the truth that God is incomprehensible, and that when we attempt to judge Him we are really only judging ourselves. I very highly recommend this book!
