Mere Christianity

Title: Mere Christianity

Author: C. S. Lewis

Pages: 5 discs

Genre: Religion

Grade: B

Synopsis: C.S. Lewis talks about what it means to be a Christian and the principles that all of Christianity are founded upon. The original lectures were given as radio broadcasts during World War II in Great Britain.

My Review: I found Lewis' insights to be interesting and refreshing, but the lectures themselves could be a bit boring. The lectures definitely gave some food for thought.

Wicked

Title: Wicked - The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Author: Gregory Maguire

Pages: 416

Genre: Fiction

Grade: B-

Synopsis: We are all familiar with the story of Dorothy Gale and the Wizard of Oz, but we've only heard her side of the story. This book tells the story from the perspective of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. Elphaba is born a green hermaphrodite and struggles her whole life with her identity. She goes to school at the University in Shiz where she rooms with Galinda (who would become the good witch of the North). Elphaba champions the rights of Animals (those who can think and talk) and fights against the tyranny of the Wizard.

My Review: I enjoyed the book and the story overall, but found parts of the book to be a little boring and felt that they dragged on longer than was needed. It's been so long since I've watched The Wizard of Oz, that I need to go back and watch the movie to appreciate the book more. Alison and I saw Wicked the musical in Chicago a couple of years ago and quite enjoyed it. In fact, I'll take the musical over the book.

The Persian Pickle Club

Title: The Persian Pickle Club

Author: Sandra Dallas

Pages: 196

Genre: Historical Fiction

Grade: B

Synopsis: Queenie Bean is a young farmwife living in Harveyville, Kansas during the Great Depression. All of Kansas is a dust bowl and crops aren't growing and many people are out of work. Many of the wives in the town are members of the Persian Pickle Club, which is a group of gossiping ladies willing to do anything for each other that creates quilts for themselves and for good causes. A husband of one of the club members is murdered and a new member of the club tries to uncover the mystery behind the murder.

My Review: I enjoyed the book, it was an easy read but also thought-provoking and eye-opening. While the book is set during the great depression, I'm glad that the book didn't focus on all the depressing things going on at the time, but on how the ladies in the club always help each other out.

The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring

Title: The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring

Author: J.R.R. Tolkien

Pages: 18 discs

Genre: Fantasy

Grade: B+

Synopsis: Bilbo Baggins is preparing to celebrate his eleventy-first birthday in the Shire. All of the Hobbits are excited for the eccentric Hobbit's birthday celebration. At the end of the party, Bilbo mysteriously disappears by putting on a ring that he found in his journeys long before. He gives the ring to his heir Frodo Baggins and the wizard Gandalf tells Frodo that the ring is the ring of power that was created long ago by Sauron for evil purposes. Frodo and three other Hobbits end up traveling to Rivendell to council with the elves and on the way they are pursued by the evil black riders. In Rivendell a fellowship of an elf, two men, a wizard, a dwarf, and the four Hobbits head out on a journey to destroy the ring.

My Review: I've read these books once before and I thought that the time was ripe to read them again (this time by listening to them...). I really like the series and I've especially enjoyed listening to them because the reader has actually been singing all of the songs and poems that can be so long and boring when reading the book. The depth of the world that Tolkien has created amazes me.