Book Review: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

About the Book:

Sense and Sensibility. Frankenstein. The Scarlet Letter. You’re familiar with these pillars of classic literature. You may even be able to rattle off a few quotes, but do you really know how to read them? Do you know how to read them as a Christian?

Through this beautifully designed series, bestselling author, literature professor, and avid reader Karen Swallow Prior will guide you through a selection of classics. She will not only navigate you through the pitfalls that trap readers today, but show you how to read them in light of the gospel, and to the glory of God

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My Thoughts:

I chose to read Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad strictly because I am a fan of Karen Swallow Prior’s work. After reading her informative, spoiler-free introduction, I knew it would be a heavy read, but I hoped that I might get something out of it. 

The story was terrible. Cruelty, racism, greed, hatred… and it was all in the extreme. Although the publisher altered/replaced some of the most offensive words, the story and the characters’ actions demonstrated unfathomable disregard for human life. I couldn’t stomach it and it took me a long time to read through.

Karen Swallow Prior’s introduction is well-written. It provided information on the author’s life, a historical background of the work, an overview of themes in the work, and suggestions to consider while reading Heart of Darkness.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Book Review: Sense and Sensibility

About the Book:

Sense and Sensibility. Frankenstein. The Scarlet Letter. You’re familiar with these pillars of classic literature. You may even be able to rattle off a few quotes, but do you really know how to read them? Do you know how to read them as a Christian?

Through this beautifully designed series, bestselling author, literature professor, and avid reader Karen Swallow Prior will guide you through a selection of classics. She will not only navigate you through the pitfalls that trap readers today, but show you how to read them in light of the gospel, and to the glory of God.

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My Thoughts:

This beautiful hardcover edition of Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen features a built-in bookmark, an introduction by Karen Swallow Prior, and an abundance of reflection questions. Many years have passed since the last time I read Sense and Sensibility and Prior’s introduction helped reacquaint me with the backgrounds of both the author and this work. She deftly avoided spoilers while pointing out major themes of the story and suggesting how to read the novel as a modern-day Christian.

I enjoyed reading this edition of Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. The notes within the text furthered my understanding.  Austen’s talent and wit shine. The reflection questions are what I would expect in a college literature class. Most of them require thoughtful consideration of the text and examination of one’s own opinion. The questions would be suitable for use in a book club setting.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Book Review: Booked by Karen Swallow Prior

About the Book: 

A life of books. A life of soul. Professor Karen Swallow Prior poignantly and humorously weaves the two, until you can't tell one life from the other. Booked draws on classics like Great Expectations, delights such as Charlotte's Web, the poetry of Hopkins and Donne, and more. This thoughtful, straight-up memoir will be pure pleasure for book-lovers, teachers, and anyone who has struggled to find a way to articulate the inexpressible through a love of story.


My Thoughts:

From beginning to end, Booked by Karen Swallow Prior treated me to a delectable blend of memoir and literary explication. The engaging narrative held my attention as she discussed life experiences and related literature. The author shares candidly about her life and doesn’t shy away from topics like drugs, sex, and spiritual doubt. I loved her blunt, common sense approach to addressing issues in a healthy way that leads to empowerment rather than choosing blind naivete. In short, her life journey and its connection to books fascinated me.

Each chapter of Booked focuses on a literary work, though others may be mentioned. I read some, but not all of the chosen literary works back as an English major in college. While all the works were explained clearly, I absorbed her points more intensely on the ones I was already familiar with. Some of my favorite chapters included:  Books Promiscuously Read (John Milton’s Areopagitica), Beholding is Becoming (Jane Eyre), and The Only Thing Between Me and Tragedy (Tess of the D’Urbervilles). That chapter on Tess had me crying – yes, crying – because of its message/theme.

Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me by Karen Swallow Prior made me want to go back and read some of the classics that I’ve tucked away on my bookshelf for many years. This is a book I’ll keep an read again in the future.

Book Review: The Courage to See: Daily Inspiration from Great Literature

About the Book:

Book lovers know there is something sacred in the stories, poetry, and insight of even the most secular books. This 365-day devotional celebrates the beauty of literature and its ability to illuminate elements of the Divine, present all around us. Pairing excerpts from more than two hundred literary works with thought-provoking Scriptures and brief prayers, this spiritual guide invites readers to draw closer to God through the words of both classic and modern authors.

View an excerpt of The Courage to See on the publisher's website.

My Thoughts:

The Courage to See by Greg Garrett and Sabrina Fountain is a hardcover devotional that combines literary quotes with Scripture and a concluding prayer. This daily devotional contains 365 entries and I read several a day in order to create a timely review. However, I think it would be lovely to read only one per day and combine the reading with a time of contemplation and prayer.

As to the content of The Courage to See, sometimes the correlation between the quote and the Scripture was obvious. Other times, I didn’t see how they were related until the prayer tied the idea together. I enjoyed the differing names of God used in the prayer portions. Not just familiar ones like Holy Father, Lord Jesus, and Christ Our Redeemer, but also Risen Lord, God who Speaks, Humble Christ, and Lord of Love.

I admired the diversity of literary passages in The Courage to See. Some derive from classic works of literature while others originate from modern novels. The topics address personal issues (healing, courage, forgiveness, etc) as well as broader issues (social justice, the mystery of life, the beauty of creation, etc).

I recommend The Courage to See by Greg Garrett and Sabrina Fountain to Christians who enjoy literature and seek a daily devotional to inspire and encourage. It would make a lovely gift for any literature lover, male or female.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Book Review: The Words Between Us by Erin Bartels

About the Book:

Robin Windsor has spent much of her life under an assumed name to avoid association with her infamous parents. She thought she'd finally found sanctuary running her used bookstore in quiet River City, Michigan. But when she receives an eerily familiar book in the mail on the morning of her father's scheduled execution, Robin is thrown back to the summer she met Peter Flynt, the perfect boy who ruined everything. Why would Peter be making contact now? And why does she have a sinking feeling that she's about to be exposed all over again?

With evocative prose that recalls the classic novels we love, Erin Bartels pens a story that shows that words--the ones we say, the ones we read, and the ones we write--have more power than we imagine.


My Thoughts:

The Words Between Us by Erin Bartels is a bibliophile’s dream. A brilliantly written novel with numerous references to literary classics, it celebrates novels and poetry of old while exploring the power that words have in our lives whether they are spoken, read, or written.

Dual timelines in The Words Between Us created a captivating storyline. The novel held my attention from beginning to end with its unfolding mystery, intense personal struggles, and romantic tension. At times, each chapter felt like a mini-cliffhanger and I struggled to put the novel down! I would have loved a few more chapters or an epilogue to tie up the minor loose ends of the story, but the ending still satisfied.

As far as content, The Words Between Us has threads of Christianity and its values. Honesty, forgiveness, and a search for truth are embedded within the story. There is a supporting character whose actions (drinking and partying) may or may not offend more conservative readers. I wasn’t bothered by her, just giving a warning.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Words Between Us by Erin Bartels and recommend it to readers who enjoy contemporary fiction that mixes romance, difficult issues, and fascination with books. Five stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.