Literary

As readings and studies are completed of books of interest, personal observations, and thoughts are posted of written impressions of the subject matter. Additionally, as books are read to completion, reflections are posted here as a review in summary or outline format. The readings most generally concern classic fiction and non-fiction whether theological, biographical, historical, liturgical, or modern with social relevance.

Inferno by Dante Alighieri

Inferno by Dante Alighieri

Dante Alighieri's "Inferno," the first part of his epic poem "The Divine Comedy," is one of the seminal works of Western literature. Written in the early 14th century, it provides a detailed account of the ...
The Hobbit

The Hobbit

"The Hobbit," or "There and Back Again," written by J.R.R. Tolkien and first published in 1937, is a timeless work in the fantasy genre, offering a richly imagined world filled with memorable characters, profound themes, ...
The Story of a Soul

The Story of a Soul

"Story of a Soul" ("L'Histoire d'une Âme") is an autobiographical work by St. Thérèse of Lisieux (Marie Françoise-Thérèse Martin), a Carmelite nun and one of the most venerated figures in modern Catholicism. Thérèse The book ...
All of Grace

All of Grace

In "All of Grace," Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the renowned 19th-century Baptist preacher, offers a timeless exploration into the heart of Christian theology: the doctrine of grace. Not merely a theoretical exposition for academic theologians, this ...
Gentle & Lowly

Gentle & Lowly

"Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers" is a book by Dane Ortlund that delves into the character and heart of Jesus Christ. Published in 2020, the book provides readers with ...
The Abolition of Man

The Abolition of Man

C.S. Lewis's "The Abolition of Man" is a defense of objective values against the encroachments of subjectivism and relativism. While Lewis's arguments are informed by various sources, the classical Greek philosophies of Plato and Aristotle ...
In the Lord I Take Refuge

In the Lord I Take Refuge

In the book "In The LORD I Take Refuge," the author, Dane Ortlund, wrote a commentary alongside each chapter of the book of Psalms. As a Presbyterian pastor with a Ph.D., he offers reflections and ...
Mere Christianity

Mere Christianity

Mere Christianity is a profound work of theological literature written by British writer and lay theologian C.S. Lewis. First published in 1942, the book is a timeless and influential work in Christian apologetics. Much of ...
The Pilgrim's Progress

The Pilgrim’s Progress

Having read The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, it is helpful to understand Bunyan’s background as the author of this widely-known book. The Pilgrim’s Progress is a long-time classic about living as a Christian throughout ...
Confessions by Augustine

Confessions by Augustine

A couple of weeks ago, I finished reading Confessions by Augustine. It was the first written work of Augustine I read as a whole, and it is a classic on a personal reading list of ...
Plato's Republic

Plato’s Republic

The purpose of reading Plato’s Republic is to develop a deeper and richer understanding of Augustine’s The City of God. Before beginning to fully absorb The City of God, Plato’s Republic, written in 375 B.C., ...
Einstein: His Life and Universe

Einstein: His Life and Universe

The biography Einstein: His Life and Universe, written by Walter Isaacson, is about the life story of a morally flawed genius. In some respects, the heights of his genius are matched by the depths of ...
Errata to Wormwood

Errata to Wormwood

This post is a book review of C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters. To track and understand what Lewis wrote from the perspective of Screwtape in his correspondence to Wormwood, I wrote these summaries in the ...