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A review by dwlejcjvg
A Well of Wonder, Volume 1: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and the Inklings by Clyde S. Kilby
4.0
[bc:A Well of Wonder: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and The Inklings|30758126|A Well of Wonder C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and The Inklings|Clyde S. Kilby|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1474820029s/30758126.jpg|51308457]
Positives first, then some negatives. This book is very enjoyable for any reader of Lewis and Tolkien and others in their circle. Kilby accurately captures the spirit of their writings and lives and delightfully expands on key points in their thinking. Readers who are new to these authors will grow, and readers who are familiar with them will enjoy revisiting much loved passages.
Negatives: This book isn't that deep. Only in a a couple of chapters does Kilby rise above an intermediate level summary. This isn't actually all that much of a criticism since what is being summarized is pure gold. In the same vein, the book is also very redundant, some chapters seem like they are just shortened versions of the longer ones. At times whole paragraphs are repeated word for word. Also fine, since they are so good, and also since this is a collection of articles and transcripts published at various times. Understandable.
I suppose my harshest criticism is that there is virtually no criticism in this book. At times it borders on hagiography. Take for instance Kilby's ardent defense of Lewis's terrible metaphor of the cube to describe the Trinity (which is repeated 4 or 5 times in the book). Kilby defends Lewis by saying Jesus also readily used metaphors and images drawn from everyday life to illustrate deep spiritual truths. True enough. But the problem with Lewis's metaphor is not that it is a metaphor, but that it is a bad one (and a bad one it truly is). But even this only annoyed me a little, and having recently read "The Fellowship" by the Zaleskis it was even a little refreshing since that book errs in the opposite direction.
Positives first, then some negatives. This book is very enjoyable for any reader of Lewis and Tolkien and others in their circle. Kilby accurately captures the spirit of their writings and lives and delightfully expands on key points in their thinking. Readers who are new to these authors will grow, and readers who are familiar with them will enjoy revisiting much loved passages.
Negatives: This book isn't that deep. Only in a a couple of chapters does Kilby rise above an intermediate level summary. This isn't actually all that much of a criticism since what is being summarized is pure gold. In the same vein, the book is also very redundant, some chapters seem like they are just shortened versions of the longer ones. At times whole paragraphs are repeated word for word. Also fine, since they are so good, and also since this is a collection of articles and transcripts published at various times. Understandable.
I suppose my harshest criticism is that there is virtually no criticism in this book. At times it borders on hagiography. Take for instance Kilby's ardent defense of Lewis's terrible metaphor of the cube to describe the Trinity (which is repeated 4 or 5 times in the book). Kilby defends Lewis by saying Jesus also readily used metaphors and images drawn from everyday life to illustrate deep spiritual truths. True enough. But the problem with Lewis's metaphor is not that it is a metaphor, but that it is a bad one (and a bad one it truly is). But even this only annoyed me a little, and having recently read "The Fellowship" by the Zaleskis it was even a little refreshing since that book errs in the opposite direction.