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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Difficult but ultimately rewarding. Quite dated in many ways.
Dreamlike journey through Death to Life.
This book is about a man's journey into a strange world and what he finds there. Typical fantasy premise, but DO NOT expect a typical fantasy book.
This is very much a spiritual journey, and a dream-like one, and it will not always make sense or be comprehensible.
The last tenth of the book was great, but the journey to get there was far too long. Much could have been cut from this book. In many places it dragged on and on and on. Many times I almost gave up on reading it, and I am a big MacDonald fan.
I preferred Phantastes. Or even better, his non-fiction book called, The Hope of the Gospel.
This book is about a man's journey into a strange world and what he finds there. Typical fantasy premise, but DO NOT expect a typical fantasy book.
This is very much a spiritual journey, and a dream-like one, and it will not always make sense or be comprehensible.
The last tenth of the book was great, but the journey to get there was far too long. Much could have been cut from this book. In many places it dragged on and on and on. Many times I almost gave up on reading it, and I am a big MacDonald fan.
I preferred Phantastes. Or even better, his non-fiction book called, The Hope of the Gospel.
Many people really love this book but I did not. It was a mix of Alice and Wonderland, Gulliver's Travels and Pilgrim's Progress. But as a fantasy books that felt like the author was on acid. I just couldn't get into it.
[Read a full review at The Warden's Walk.]
An entrancing and utterly unique, unpredictable story, full of the beauty, the gravitas, and possibly the underlying reality of dreams.
I would be pleased if everyone read this book, as it is so unique and has so much of real value, both aesthetically and spiritually, to offer. Yet I think that many people may have difficulty getting beyond the book’s strangeness, as sublime as I find it. Knowledge of Christianity is extremely helpful in understanding this book, as MacDonald references theology quite often without explaining his references very well; nonetheless, such knowledge is not necessary. In fact, MacDonald himself would probably have preferred readers to merely read and soak in his story without trying to understand every little bit as they go. When reading Lilith, focus on the emotions of the characters and of the scenes, and then use the theology to guide your understanding of those emotions.
An entrancing and utterly unique, unpredictable story, full of the beauty, the gravitas, and possibly the underlying reality of dreams.
I would be pleased if everyone read this book, as it is so unique and has so much of real value, both aesthetically and spiritually, to offer. Yet I think that many people may have difficulty getting beyond the book’s strangeness, as sublime as I find it. Knowledge of Christianity is extremely helpful in understanding this book, as MacDonald references theology quite often without explaining his references very well; nonetheless, such knowledge is not necessary. In fact, MacDonald himself would probably have preferred readers to merely read and soak in his story without trying to understand every little bit as they go. When reading Lilith, focus on the emotions of the characters and of the scenes, and then use the theology to guide your understanding of those emotions.
This is one of these books that I -personally- would classify as solid 5/5.
I only gave it a 4/5 for a single reason. MacDonald is not a typical writer. He was a priest, or, in the words of Wikipedia, a Christian minister.
Why's that of importance? Because, the folk and the shepherds may use the same language, but not in the same way.
The reader of this magnificent, allegoric, deeply religious fairytale will need to arm himself/herself with tons of good will to push onwards when the sentences become tiresome and exhausting.
This is not something that the reader will realise halfway through the story. The very first paragraph reads: " I was impressed as if some ancient and altogether admirable and shining family had settled there in that part of the land called Concord, unknown to me,--to whom the sun was servant,-- who had not gone into society in the village,--who had not been called on". You get the point.
However, the story is impeccable. The characters are ever changing. The plot is masterfully weaved. This is indeed a fairytale of faith or a work of fiction, or fantasy, on religion. It is so much in fact, that not unless you take the time to read it, will you realise the depths and the widths to which this novel extends.
Even calling this a novel hurts its true nature.
Parallel words, creatures, embodiments of notions, respectable axioms, believed vices, valuable ethics... You need to savour this story to get to grips with what a truly holistic view of faith can produce.
I only gave it a 4/5 for a single reason. MacDonald is not a typical writer. He was a priest, or, in the words of Wikipedia, a Christian minister.
Why's that of importance? Because, the folk and the shepherds may use the same language, but not in the same way.
The reader of this magnificent, allegoric, deeply religious fairytale will need to arm himself/herself with tons of good will to push onwards when the sentences become tiresome and exhausting.
This is not something that the reader will realise halfway through the story. The very first paragraph reads: " I was impressed as if some ancient and altogether admirable and shining family had settled there in that part of the land called Concord, unknown to me,--to whom the sun was servant,-- who had not gone into society in the village,--who had not been called on". You get the point.
However, the story is impeccable. The characters are ever changing. The plot is masterfully weaved. This is indeed a fairytale of faith or a work of fiction, or fantasy, on religion. It is so much in fact, that not unless you take the time to read it, will you realise the depths and the widths to which this novel extends.
Even calling this a novel hurts its true nature.
Parallel words, creatures, embodiments of notions, respectable axioms, believed vices, valuable ethics... You need to savour this story to get to grips with what a truly holistic view of faith can produce.
Groundbreaking fantasy - one of the first books I want to reread when I retire. Read it as part of an Inklings research project at the Oregon Extension. Part of my paradigm shift and brain remolding.
I read this much too quickly to have comprehended all of it.
There will be a slower reread in the future :)
There will be a slower reread in the future :)
Beautifully written
This was my first non children’s book of George MacDonald’s I’ve read. It was absolutely beautifully written and I could definitely see how he influenced C.S. Lewis. While I was reading it I looked the book and George MacDonald up and found out that we was a Universalist and that Lilith touched on that theme. I definitely saw hints of that while reading it and other theological errors but I still found it an enjoyable story.
This was my first non children’s book of George MacDonald’s I’ve read. It was absolutely beautifully written and I could definitely see how he influenced C.S. Lewis. While I was reading it I looked the book and George MacDonald up and found out that we was a Universalist and that Lilith touched on that theme. I definitely saw hints of that while reading it and other theological errors but I still found it an enjoyable story.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes