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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
Bit of a slog to end up at some ultimately frowzy moralizing
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
The first book on my list of re-reads that does nothing for me now. I can see why this book had such a big impact on me when I was in college. It's like reading Lewis with the guardrails removed. Indeed, that's largely what it is - Christian fantasy without any apologetic intent. I needed that at one point in my life. I needed to be mystified; too much of my Christian upbringing was aimed at demystifying my faith. Now, while the blessings of mystery are yet strong chords in the orchestration of my faith, I am much more "of the earth" in every aspect of my being. That is a theological and eschatological commitment as well as a practical and aesthetic one.
Thank you, father MacDonald, for setting me free in such a complete way that the freedom you preach still beats strong in my heart.
Thank you, father MacDonald, for setting me free in such a complete way that the freedom you preach still beats strong in my heart.
George MacDonald stands apart singularly in my reading experiences. C.S. Lewis said that every page he wrote plagiarized MacDonald's ideas, and also admitted that MacDonald was not a great writer in the quality of his prose. I agree fully on the later and see his point with the former.
In his favor, MacDonald's adult fantasy work is great reading because he has the most distinctly confident and original ideas for myths that I have ever read. His fantastic worlds are wholly original and inspired. His spiritual and philosophical components require deep mediation and are generally inspiring and quotable.
On the other hand, both due to the period of the writing and to his own verbose and exhausting communication, passages can drone and quickly lose the modern reader's interest.
Overall, Lilith is well worth a read. It deals with alternate planes, world mythologies and religion, and fleshes out the concepts of good, evil, forgiveness and restoration in a way that contains real elements of horror and exquisite visions of recreation. It takes some work, but I believe I shall mull upon it for many years.
In his favor, MacDonald's adult fantasy work is great reading because he has the most distinctly confident and original ideas for myths that I have ever read. His fantastic worlds are wholly original and inspired. His spiritual and philosophical components require deep mediation and are generally inspiring and quotable.
On the other hand, both due to the period of the writing and to his own verbose and exhausting communication, passages can drone and quickly lose the modern reader's interest.
Overall, Lilith is well worth a read. It deals with alternate planes, world mythologies and religion, and fleshes out the concepts of good, evil, forgiveness and restoration in a way that contains real elements of horror and exquisite visions of recreation. It takes some work, but I believe I shall mull upon it for many years.
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I started out liking this book. It's interesting and whimsical. But the more it goes on, the more painfully boring and tiring it gets. I might revisit it eventually. I'm not sure.
This had such depth, mixing a recognizable late 19th century and fantasy. It was fascinatingly told and I would be interested in reading it again to catch even more of the layers.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I just could not keep track of what was happening. It wasn't interesting enough to hold my attention and the protagonist was so, so bland.
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes