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josiahdegraaf's reviews
1185 reviews
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
5.0
A captivating tale about one man's desire for revenge against his friends and how the grace of God eventually transforms him to learn how to forgive.
5.5 Stars. (Masterpiece)
5.5 Stars. (Masterpiece)
Sword in the Stars by Wayne Thomas Batson
5.0
This book has so much goodness in it.
Pros:
A complicated, really interesting world. Kind of Tolkien-esque in that there's a lot of worldbuilding that's gone into it. I love the little blurbs before each chapter that lend light on different facets of the world. So many original ideas that lend to a fascinating world.
Complex, realistic characters who don't fall to the common black-white pitfalls of Christian literature. I particularly loved the interactions between the MC, who struggles with a lot of serious sins, and the king whose basically an example of Christian legalism/extreme Christian fundamentalism (depending on how you define that last term). Both characters were so realistic, and I love how Batson was able to subtly show the errors of the king without being all preachy about it.
Overall:
This book is one of my favorite modern fantasy novels, and my favorite fantasy novel written by a Christian. It's one of those books that restores my faith that Christian fantasy novels can be really, really good when enough time and work is put into them.
4.5-5 stars.
Pros:
A complicated, really interesting world. Kind of Tolkien-esque in that there's a lot of worldbuilding that's gone into it. I love the little blurbs before each chapter that lend light on different facets of the world. So many original ideas that lend to a fascinating world.
Complex, realistic characters who don't fall to the common black-white pitfalls of Christian literature. I particularly loved the interactions between the MC, who struggles with a lot of serious sins, and the king whose basically an example of Christian legalism/extreme Christian fundamentalism (depending on how you define that last term). Both characters were so realistic, and I love how Batson was able to subtly show the errors of the king without being all preachy about it.
Overall:
This book is one of my favorite modern fantasy novels, and my favorite fantasy novel written by a Christian. It's one of those books that restores my faith that Christian fantasy novels can be really, really good when enough time and work is put into them.
4.5-5 stars.
Lit!: A Christian Guide to Reading Books by Tony Reinke
4.0
Lit! is a great book for those who are looking to learn to love reading more, and for those who already love reading and are always looking for new books.
Pros:
While there were a lot of great bits of practical advice, I appreciate how Reinke started with a "theology of books," in looking at what the Bible has to say about books and such before jumping into all the practical applications.
Reinke made some very good points about the importance of writing in your books. While I already jot down notes and underline in books, Reinke gave me a lot of ideas of other things to write down in books which sound very helpful (although to follow his whole approach is a bit too time-consuming for me.)
Reinke made a lot of really interesting and correct points, particularly when he talked about how a lot of times, there are only two or three really important lines/ideas we get from a book, and how that's okay and even should be expected. While that's only one example, there are quite a few things in Lit! that made me think about the purpose of literature and how to use it.
Cons:
At one point, Reinke argues that fiction is more for enjoyment and appreciating beauty than for impacting a worldview. While I would agree that enjoyment is important, I think this somewhat falls short of the power of literature to actually change minds and impact the world (think Uncle Tom's Cabin for an example of how it can do this). While readers should be cautious about accepting a book's worldview and always hold it up to the light of Scripture, I disagree with Reinke on this point. Yes, fiction is for enjoyment. But it is also for instruction. And good books should make you think as well as impact your worldview.
Overall:
After reading the prologue, I was kind of expecting a book that was mostly focused on those who were a bit more hesitant about reading, and was thus worried that there wouldn't be much out of the book to glean. It was to my delight therefore that I discovered myself wrong. While certain parts of the book aren't as applicable (talking about why books are important, discussing ways for parents/pastors to instill a love of books in their children/congregation), overall I got a lot from the book and have a lot more to think about. Highly recommended to anyone who loves books and is willing to consider more what the role of literature is in the Christian life, and how to apply this to their daily living.
4-4.5 stars.
Pros:
While there were a lot of great bits of practical advice, I appreciate how Reinke started with a "theology of books," in looking at what the Bible has to say about books and such before jumping into all the practical applications.
Reinke made some very good points about the importance of writing in your books. While I already jot down notes and underline in books, Reinke gave me a lot of ideas of other things to write down in books which sound very helpful (although to follow his whole approach is a bit too time-consuming for me.)
Reinke made a lot of really interesting and correct points, particularly when he talked about how a lot of times, there are only two or three really important lines/ideas we get from a book, and how that's okay and even should be expected. While that's only one example, there are quite a few things in Lit! that made me think about the purpose of literature and how to use it.
Cons:
At one point, Reinke argues that fiction is more for enjoyment and appreciating beauty than for impacting a worldview. While I would agree that enjoyment is important, I think this somewhat falls short of the power of literature to actually change minds and impact the world (think Uncle Tom's Cabin for an example of how it can do this). While readers should be cautious about accepting a book's worldview and always hold it up to the light of Scripture, I disagree with Reinke on this point. Yes, fiction is for enjoyment. But it is also for instruction. And good books should make you think as well as impact your worldview.
Overall:
After reading the prologue, I was kind of expecting a book that was mostly focused on those who were a bit more hesitant about reading, and was thus worried that there wouldn't be much out of the book to glean. It was to my delight therefore that I discovered myself wrong. While certain parts of the book aren't as applicable (talking about why books are important, discussing ways for parents/pastors to instill a love of books in their children/congregation), overall I got a lot from the book and have a lot more to think about. Highly recommended to anyone who loves books and is willing to consider more what the role of literature is in the Christian life, and how to apply this to their daily living.
4-4.5 stars.
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
5.0
One of my favorite books. Takes a lot of pages to set up everything, but while the reading seems tedious at first, it pays dividends as you really understand all the characters in the story. The book kept me guessing on whether or not Dimtri actually committed the murder, and numerous plot twists made the story very intriguing. Add to all that the fact that Dostoyevsky portrayed the superiority of the Christian life without being terribly preachy, and we have a great work of literature that I'll be sure to re-read in the years to come.
5.5 Stars (Masterpiece)
5.5 Stars (Masterpiece)
The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
5.0
While very different in form than the Lord of the Rings, while it is sometimes difficult to get through, the breadth and scope of the Silmarillion is difficult to be matched. The Silmarillion tells an enthralling tale over millennia about the great conflict between good and evil, as depicted within the warring 'gods' of Middle Earth. While the pace can be rapid at times, when it slows down, as it does with the tale of Turin and the story of Beren and Luthien, the results are magnificent. There is such a mythic quality especially to Beren and Luthien, there are so many points where you read what Tolkien wrote and think, "I've heard that story before." It is a "new" story, yes, when Tolkien wrote it. But it feels like a very, very old story as well. There's much more in Silmarillion than can be gleaned in one reading. But the cautions against a greed for beauty, and the desire for revenge, both clearly make it out of the reading of this tale. This is a book to be read many times over the course of a life time.
4.5 to 5 stars.
4.5 to 5 stars.
Christian Theology by Millard J. Erickson
4.0
Good systematic theology book that takes a fair look at the issues. The basic format of each chapter is to take a quick overview of the major positions on each topic before Erickson gives his own view on the issue. While I didn't agree with all of Erickson's conclusions, particularly as he began discussing the Church and the End Times, I appreciated how he presented all the arguments for each issue before giving his own opinion.
4 stars.
4 stars.