January 2025 Reads!

This month I got to dive into the medieval influences on C. S. Lewis's writing, a delightful book about touring Europe, and, of course, my favorite trilogy: The Lord of the Rings. Here are ten great books I read this month!

The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien

The Fellowship of the Ring begins the Lord of the Rings trilogy with the tale of four Hobbits, two Men, a Dwarf, a wizard, and an Elf, who must journey to Mordor to destroy the One Ring. Frodo must bear the burden of the Enemy's weapon as he traverses the wilderness, enduring a fiery demon in the darkness of Moria, witnessing the golden beauty of the Elven forests of Lórien, and watching for the eerie creature Gollum, who follows them in their travels. But the greatest danger might come from within the Fellowship, as the Ring corrupts and draws all to its power.

Tolkien writes a stunning epic of courage amidst the darkness and hope against all hope. The description in this book was absolutely beautiful; the author clearly loves nature and inspires an appreciation for the natural world in the reader. He uses powerful adjectives and setting to create the mood of every scene, whether it be a time of rest and merriment (as in the home of Tom Bombadil) or grave danger (as in the Mines of Moria).

The novel also offers a stirring theme of courage against all odds, as Frodo, as the suffering servant, bears the ring amidst deadly pursuit or fiery mountain tunnels. Most of the characters must face some evil or temptation throughout the book, and they remain steadfast even though they lose one of the fellowship. Samwise Gamgee especially shows his mettle as he even leaps into a river to accompany his friend Frodo, despite being afraid of water and boats. 

But the novel also soberly reminds readers of the dangers of pursuing power, even if for good ends. Gandalf and Galadriel both demonstrate resistance to this temptation, as they both know their own hearts well enough to recognize that to take the Ring would mean corruption of their initially good character. Boromir, unfortunately, does not grasp so easily that power corrupts; to seize the Ring for Gondor would only mean destruction of Middle-Earth by another force. Tolkien strikes at the hearts of most people with this theme. No matter how good the aim, it is not for man to seize power, and fools ignore the warnings of the wise and assume that the ends justify the means. 

In the end, it is the humble Sam, traveling not for the Ring's power, but for friendship, who will accompany Frodo on the continuation of his quest. Tolkien's friendships are probably some of the strongest in literary history. Sam, Merry, Pippin, and Fatty all show their love for Frodo by preparing for his journey before he even knows they intend to help him. Merry and Pippin, against Elrond's preference, embark with Frodo because of their faithfulness. And, of course, Sam fights at Frodo's side in Moria and risks drowning to go with him to Mordor. Tolkien's friendships are an inspiration in a time when most books seem to downplay philia love in favor of eros (or worse, turn the friendship into romance). Even the unlikely closeness between Legolas and Gimli, of two races who often disagree, shows the power of the love that is friendship. Frodo would certainly have never succeeded in his quest if not for his companions! 

Five stars!

"The Purloined Letter" by Edgar Allen Poe

Auguste Dupin must solve a mystery of a letter that a politician is holding to blackmail a woman. While the French police have searched his apartment from top to bottom, the letter remains hidden, until Dupin's knowledge of human behavior and the politician's identity as poet and mathematician reveals its location...

Poe makes some fascinating points about poets. It was most amusing reading the conversation about poets being fools, especially when the author himself is a poet. But he also reminds the reader that not all truth comes from math formulas, and the genius in the politician comes from being both mathematician and poet. The mind games in this story rival those of the battle of the wits scene in A Princess Bride, with some interesting tidbits about where morality comes from and the necessity for poetry and story.

Three stars.

Epic Homesteading: Your Guide to Self-Sufficiency on a Modern, High-tech, Backyard Homestead by Kevin Espiritu

Epic Homesteading offers a fresh perspective on self-sufficient living, as Espiritu examines how one might homestead in a urban setting. He covers most of the basics, such as growing vegetables and fruits, irrigation, chickens, and preservation. This book offers a lot of helpful, practical advice and an openness and knowledge of technology on the homestead.

While I didn't think I would care for this book, as urban homesteading isn't really my cup of tea, I actually found it very refreshing. Espiritu takes a very scientific outlook to homesteading. He has a lot of very handy diagrams and charts and gives specific instructions for different systems in irrigation or beekeeping. I also appreciated the very non-judgmental tone to this book. The author offers a lot of grace to first-time homesteaders, reminding the reader to start small and recognize that you don't have to do everything—tackle what you can manage. Overall, a very encouraging book for homesteading! 

Three stars.

The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien

The Two Towers continues the journey of Frodo and Sam, who must trust the creeping creature Gollum to safely lead them to Mordor to destroy the One Ring. However, they are delayed by the eerie Dead Marshes and then must accept the aid of Faramir, Captain of Gondor, to enjoy rest and refreshment before beginning the treacherous journey through Cirith Ungol and the danger that awaits there. Meanwhile, Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn pursue the Uruk-Hai to rescue their friends. But Merry and Pippin, despite their size, are called upon to awake Fangorn Forest and aid the Rohirrim from the evil armies of Saruman. 

Once again, Tolkien stuns with his dual themes of battling evil and being wary of power. King Théoden of Rohan has slept long in apathy, trapped by the bewitchment of Saruman and the lies of his advisor Gríma Wormtongue (whose first name, interestingly enough, means "mask" in Anglo-Saxon). Rohan lies at great peril, and the King must be spiritually awoken by Gandalf, and then later stirred to action by Aragorn. Aragorn himself is a catalyst for action against rising evil; as the King of Gondor, he offers hope and courage even to the Rohirrim. 

Frodo and Sam too demonstrate this courage to fight darkness. Amidst the perilous stairs of Cirith Ungol, Sam says, "I expect they [the people in the old tales] had lots of chances, like us, of turning back, only they didn't." Much of courage is shown through the choices people make along the way, such as Sam battling the hideous Shelob or following the orcs to rescue Frodo. Even a humble gardener becomes hero through the small decisions that imbue virtue in a person. Many times the characters must make difficult decisions amidst danger, driven to it by the times they are in. 

These small decisions also demonstrate the fight against power's corruption. Tolkien once again speaks of the lure of evil, when the ring is potentially imperiled in the presence of Faramir, brother of Boromir. But, unlike his brother, Faramir rejects the temptation of the ring. He wants as much as Boromir to restore Gondor to its glory, but he recognizes the danger of the ends justifying the means. Tolkien shows his greatest wisdom in Faramir's speeches. Faramir recognizes that war and bloodshed are an unhappy necessity to fight evil, and he admirably leads his men through that, but he also knows that war and violence should never be the goal, as he says:

War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend: the city of the Men of Númenor; and I would have her loved for her memory, her ancientry, her beauty, and her present wisdom. Not feared, save as men may fear the dignity of a man, old and wise.

Tolkien shows that power or even violence must be used sparingly, and never pursued, as the Ring might be obsessively pursued. War is only used to protect, never as a way to oppress others or gain their fear, and especially not to satisfy selfish ambitions. As a soldier of World War I, Tolkien undoubtedly witnessed the problems with leaders causing bloodshed because of their lust for worldly gain and military prowess. He strongly suggests through Faramir's interactions with Frodo and Sam that a culture is in perilous straits indeed when they "love war and valor as things good in themselves, both a sport and an end" and "esteem a warrior, nonetheless, above men of other crafts." 

While The Two Towers is not an anti-war novel by any means, it places war in its proper place—as an unhappy reality when one must protect family and home and all that is beautiful, not to be pursued or enjoyed but to be approached with seriousness and yet courage. Tolkien very much recognizes that one should not avoid war when your country is at risk for utter destruction. Théoden, for example, only narrowly avoids the ruin of Rohan when he awakens from his apathy and chooses to finally ride out against the orc pillaging his lands. To roll over and let the enemy ransack, rape, and rule your nation is as near a sin as to enjoy the battlefield and savor the bloodlust. Overall, Tolkien's perspective on war seems very nuanced (a rare sight indeed and likely caused by his experience in an actual war, which most authors of the present day lack, and it shows through their glorification of violence). 

The Two Towers darkens the already-frightening mission of the first book of the trilogy, introduces new, dynamic characters, and powerfully imbues in the reader a sense of humanity's own weakness against desiring power. 

Five stars!

Folk Music: A Bob Dylan Biography in Seven Songs by Greil Marcus

Folk Music examines seven of Bob Dylan's songs, discussing his music career and the historical, cultural and political context surrounding his music. Marcus goes through, lyric by lyric, these pieces of American culture and offers further information on other musicians of Dylan's era and beyond.

While this book had great potential to inform readers about Dylan's life, it was, quite frankly, very disorganized. The songs were not in chronological order, and while I might've forgiven that, I could not forgive the extraneous information that washed away all semblance of coherence. Unfortunately, the author cannot seem to keep his focus on one topic or person at a time. There was simply too much going on at once in this book. He would jump from Dylan to another singer that the reader was presumed to know, and then back to Dylan, with more random information about politics or music that didn't seem to fit in the paragraph. I really wanted to enjoy this book, but it was just all over the place and I didn't learn as much as I wish I would've. I did, however, get to listen to more Dylan music and I did appreciate how he went in-depth on the lyrics and style, even if this book seemed like an info dump of random '60s music information.

2 stars.

Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers (Volume 1) by Jessica Roux

Floriography is a lovely little book for anyone who wants to get into flower arranging, or perhaps for an author writing a book about Victorian England. With its charming illustrations and paragraphs on the history of each plant's name and symbolism, this book offers a fine introduction to plants, even providing pairing suggestions and bouquet designs for any occasion, whether it be a marriage, a breakup, or a new start!

As a want-to-be flower arranger, I appreciated how this book made the plants all the more meaningful. The bouquet designs at the end were especially helpful, but the pairing suggestions also offer an infinite number of possible designs that could be used as gifts. The book is also handy for learning more about plants or memorizing plant names. I liked it so much I might purchase it for a reference. 

Four stars!

Thrive: The Single Life as God Intended by Lina Abujamra

Thrive discusses common pitfalls of singleness, such as bitterness or sexual temptation, suggests Biblical solutions to these problems, and reminds the reader to, most importantly, focus on God, not discontentment in the single life. Abujamra uses her own experiences to offer a realistic, blunt approach to the trials of the single life. She also offers sound Biblical advice for the benefits of singleness, such as greater focus on God and more time to serve Him by serving others. This book is a grace-filled yet honest discussion for any single believer who wants to stop living in self-pity (or whatever other poor attitude one might struggle with) and live into the great plan God has!

While I initially approached Abujamra's advice with hesitance because I was perhaps slightly judgmental about the fact that she broke off two engagements, I think, ultimately, I didn't understand the amount of grace she showed her exes by not going into the details (since as I continued reading it seemed there was other stuff going on that, honestly, I had no right to judge about). The writing style is both honest and understanding—sort of like an older, wiser friends giving a younger one a stern but loving pep talk to drag her out of the mires of singleness self-pity and into the plan of joyful obsession with God that we as believers are supposed to live in. Abujamra knows the struggles of single people and she approaches them with a lot of wisdom and Biblical advice, using examples from Scripture. 

I really, really appreciated that she did not offer the usual pithy advice that gives no comfort, such as, "I'm sure you'll find someone soon," or, "you have a soulmate out there." Instead, she seemed to keep with what the Bible does say about singleness and relationships, not veering into marriage worship or telling us to just suck it up and deal with the fact that we're probably all called to singleness if we're not married by thirty. 

My only complaint might be that sometimes the book seemed to unnecessary expand upon points when it might have remained more concise. Sometimes it felt as if she were discussing a point to death when she might have moved on earlier once the reader comprehended what she was trying to say. Other than that, fairly good book to read if you're weary of the single life and looking for a reminder that we live to worship and serve God, not to mope around waiting for marriage.

Three stars.

The Medieval Mind of C. S. Lewis: How Great Books Shaped a Great Mind by Jason M. Baxter

The Medieval Mind of C. S. Lewis offers an excellent overview of the literary influences of the great apologist. Lewis's work features ideas from many of the greats, such as Dante or Boethius. In fact, one could even claim that his writing is a gateway to these thinkers, due to the number of references he has towards them.

I enjoyed this book as a short introduction to the authors who affected Lewis so greatly that he would use their thoughts in his own stories and apologetic works. Baxter concisely yet eloquently covers the main themes throughout Lewis's writing and the medieval backgrounds to that theme. He compares works from Lewis to medieval works with numerous quotations that show how Lewis was transmitting medieval ideas for the modern world to enjoy. Overall, this book was an enchanting read that inspired me to take a second look at the medieval writers one of my favorite Christian authors so enjoyed. 

Four stars!

A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure by Angela Bell

A Lady's Guide to Marvels and Misadventure spins the tale of Clara, granddaughter of the eccentric clockmaker Drosselmeyer and daughter in an oddball family. When her grandfather goes missing, leading her on a hunt across Europe, Clara must both prevent her family's reputation from being destroyed by her desperate ex-fiancé and protect her own heart from the noble and mysterious Mr. Arthur.

For a modern novel, this book was rather wittily written. The author has some delightful descriptions in there, much in the style of Georgette Heyers. Sometimes the prose does get to be a bit too flowery, however, and can be hard to follow. But, for the most part, expect lovely vocabulary and beautiful language about the places and cuisine of Europe as Clara and her family travel across countries!

The character arcs were a mixed bag. Theodore was excellently written and his storyline was honestly quite heart-wrenching. I'll admit it took me a bit more time to decide if I liked Clara or not, but she grew on me despite her initial grumpiness and slightly over-exaggerated flaws. Their romance was quite sweet at the end, though a few of Clara's descriptions about how "masculine" Theodore was made me roll my eyes a bit. Granted, I don't particularly care for romance novels so perhaps that's just a personal preference. 

My only disappointment with this book was that it seemed a little bit too slow-paced at times, and the excessively complicated vocabulary made it a bit rough to read at points. I think I would have preferred a bit more adventure, but perhaps I simply misjudged the genre of the book and was expecting epic danger when I really should have been prepared for a charming romp across Europe with only slight risk. 

Overall, a merry read that evokes The Nutcrackerand Around the World in Eighty Days, but with more romance and dramatic faith-based character development.

Three stars.

Every Woman a Theologian: Know What You Believe. Live It Confidently. Communicate it Graciously. by Phylicia Masonheimer

Full of grace and wisdom, Masonheimer examines the basics of theology so that the reader can get an excellent introduction to core issues of the faith and varying views on more second-tier theological discussions. She goes through the crucial information of Christianity, backing it up with Bible verses. Then she examines doctrines that denominations might differ on, providing fairly impartial analysis of the different views.

I really appreciated how Masonheimer addresses issues in a straightforward manner. Usually I'm unimpressed by women's ministry books, mostly because they seem to insult female intelligence by dumbing down the material and featuring cheesy examples. While this book is certainly a theology book for beginners, the writing is not condescending or obnoxiously insipid. Masonheimer backs up her information with the Bible.

Her conclusion about offering grace to different believers' views was also quite moving. So often it can be easy to worship at the altar of theology instead of at the altar of Jesus, being moved towards arrogance and obsession with online pastors or hating on other believers on the internet. Masonheimer offers a warning to believers new to theology, reminding us to use our knowledge of God to better worship Him and lead others to Him, not to puff ourselves up with it. 

The study of theology equips us to love well. If it doesn't, it's not a biblical theology. The heart of all this truth about God throbs with the rhythm of endless grace. (293)

Masonheimer brings an excellent overview of theology, reminding readers of its importance, but more crucially, pointing them to God and His overwhelming love.

Four stars!