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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
LOOK, LOOK, I THINK MY ISSUE WITH THIS BOOK WAS MY COMPREHENSION, NOT THE ACTUAL WRITING. The mental gymnastics of having to follow that "the Enemy" was "God" started to work out my brain a little more than I expected it to. Lewis has a few good one-liners; he's a funny guy!
medium-paced
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
This book is why five-star reviews were created.
It was written almost a century ago in a country other than mine, but parts of this book are so applicable to today's culture that it makes you throw your hands up and scream. Or at least it makes me do that.
The insights here are incredible. It's amazing to think that Satan and his cronies have had the same playbook for ages, and yet we still are susceptible to so many of their attacks.
If you're very theology-conscious, you might find that bits and bobs of the implications Lewis mentions aren't quite what you'd fully affirm. But it's also worth noting that this book is a story told entirely with one side of a written correspondence between two demons. Lewis makes it a point to explain that some of the misconceptions that might smack of bad theology are in fact intentional on his part, because of course the demons see things in a twisted light.
I found this book delightful. It was relatable while also being entertaining. It left me something to think about and change, while also being encouraging, and scooping onto my plate a healthy helping of humor at times as well. The content really makes you think about our failings as humans in a way that minimizes guilt and shame for failing, and makes you just determined to fight back. The way this makes me think about how God truly "works," through thinking about how Satan so incorrectly sees Him...it adds a lot to my concept of God, and I'm grateful for the perspective.
I read through it with a group, literally reading aloud to each other, and we paused to discuss each chapter. I recommend doing something like that as well - although be prepared to wade through some challenging sections even in vocabulary and sentence structure. If you're reading aloud with friends, you need to have very good readers. It's an easy read in that the chapters are short, but they're packed full of amazing metaphors and similes, as well as startling discoveries about yourself and those around you - and a bunch of words you might need to look up. It's not an easy read, but it's easy to get absorbed. You'll want to binge it; my advice is to fight that urge and read it slowly instead, discussing it as you go if you're able.
I recommend this highly, and it's going on my top shelf.
It was written almost a century ago in a country other than mine, but parts of this book are so applicable to today's culture that it makes you throw your hands up and scream. Or at least it makes me do that.
The insights here are incredible. It's amazing to think that Satan and his cronies have had the same playbook for ages, and yet we still are susceptible to so many of their attacks.
If you're very theology-conscious, you might find that bits and bobs of the implications Lewis mentions aren't quite what you'd fully affirm. But it's also worth noting that this book is a story told entirely with one side of a written correspondence between two demons. Lewis makes it a point to explain that some of the misconceptions that might smack of bad theology are in fact intentional on his part, because of course the demons see things in a twisted light.
I found this book delightful. It was relatable while also being entertaining. It left me something to think about and change, while also being encouraging, and scooping onto my plate a healthy helping of humor at times as well. The content really makes you think about our failings as humans in a way that minimizes guilt and shame for failing, and makes you just determined to fight back. The way this makes me think about how God truly "works," through thinking about how Satan so incorrectly sees Him...it adds a lot to my concept of God, and I'm grateful for the perspective.
I read through it with a group, literally reading aloud to each other, and we paused to discuss each chapter. I recommend doing something like that as well - although be prepared to wade through some challenging sections even in vocabulary and sentence structure. If you're reading aloud with friends, you need to have very good readers. It's an easy read in that the chapters are short, but they're packed full of amazing metaphors and similes, as well as startling discoveries about yourself and those around you - and a bunch of words you might need to look up. It's not an easy read, but it's easy to get absorbed. You'll want to binge it; my advice is to fight that urge and read it slowly instead, discussing it as you go if you're able.
I recommend this highly, and it's going on my top shelf.
C.S. Lewis has done it yet again! This is the first book of his I have read that is not one of the Narnia books, and I will be reading many more of his works.
This is such a fun and insightful book all at once. It tackles the hard topics many Christian's face and highlights common issues that challenge our faith. Though it's written from a demon's point of view, this book is so comforting. It provides a perspective of the enemy, of the innerworkings of demons and Satan in our lives. Though it is satirical in the way it is written, many of what Screwtape says about God/Jesus or 'The Enemy' as he puts it, shows just how much God loves and cares for us. It shows the stark contrast between Jesus' end goal, and Satan's.
The way Screwtape writes, and how he is writing to his nephew, becomes very amusing. Though he signs his letters with 'your affectionate uncle' it is clear how the two detest each other even as family, and how the demons are no more than just that: willing to throw each other under the bus to get ahead. It shows how they are always doomed to fail because they are motivated by hunger, whereas God is motivated by love.
The ending was really what made this a five-star book for me. Tiny spoiler, but the way death is described in the ending, is so beautiful. As a Christian, I try to look at death as something more positive than most would, but even then, it is still hard, because I'm so attached to the world and the people I love, and I think that's normal for many Christians. But in this book, it is reframed in such a glorious way, so beautiful and comforting that I nearly cried. And it was still framed by a DEMON! And as he described it, he became 'ravenous' as he said, not truly caring for his nephew, just his insatiable hunger, which brings them all down in the end.
This book is such a great read and very encouraging to any struggling Christian or even person curious for insight into Christianity. I highly recommend.
This is such a fun and insightful book all at once. It tackles the hard topics many Christian's face and highlights common issues that challenge our faith. Though it's written from a demon's point of view, this book is so comforting. It provides a perspective of the enemy, of the innerworkings of demons and Satan in our lives. Though it is satirical in the way it is written, many of what Screwtape says about God/Jesus or 'The Enemy' as he puts it, shows just how much God loves and cares for us. It shows the stark contrast between Jesus' end goal, and Satan's.
The way Screwtape writes, and how he is writing to his nephew, becomes very amusing. Though he signs his letters with 'your affectionate uncle' it is clear how the two detest each other even as family, and how the demons are no more than just that: willing to throw each other under the bus to get ahead. It shows how they are always doomed to fail because they are motivated by hunger, whereas God is motivated by love.
The ending was really what made this a five-star book for me. Tiny spoiler, but the way death is described in the ending, is so beautiful. As a Christian, I try to look at death as something more positive than most would, but even then, it is still hard, because I'm so attached to the world and the people I love, and I think that's normal for many Christians. But in this book, it is reframed in such a glorious way, so beautiful and comforting that I nearly cried. And it was still framed by a DEMON! And as he described it, he became 'ravenous' as he said, not truly caring for his nephew, just his insatiable hunger, which brings them all down in the end.
This book is such a great read and very encouraging to any struggling Christian or even person curious for insight into Christianity. I highly recommend.
This book took me a while to finish and I think Lewis, in his own words, explained the difficulty well, “The world into which I had to project myself while I spoke through Screwtape was all dust, grit, thirst and itch. Every trace of beauty, freshness and geniality had to be excluded. It almost smothered me before I was done. It would have smothered my readers if I had prolonged it.”
I read the majority of this book while reading through The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes and found it to be a good pairing. If I were to read Screwtape again, which I doubt I will, I would read it alongside Sibbes once more.
While difficult, it is still relevant today and I’m glad I pushed through.
I read the majority of this book while reading through The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes and found it to be a good pairing. If I were to read Screwtape again, which I doubt I will, I would read it alongside Sibbes once more.
While difficult, it is still relevant today and I’m glad I pushed through.
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’ve had this on my tbr since forever and at this point I don’t even know what were my expectations. But safe to say, a self-help/handbook for Christians probably wasn’t what I had in mind.
That being said, it was a fun read with some valuable observations that could be used even outside of religion… though that’s probably just my inner demon talking.
That being said, it was a fun read with some valuable observations that could be used even outside of religion… though that’s probably just my inner demon talking.
Great satire and the format of a series of letters was unusual and enjoyable.
The content and teachings that can be gleaned was excellent; next time I want to read, not listen, so I can get more from it.
The content and teachings that can be gleaned was excellent; next time I want to read, not listen, so I can get more from it.