I only wish he'd written a regular autobiography as well, for I'm very interested to hear of his later life in his own words. Everything, every sentence, in his spiritual autobiography is laden with some classical allusion to a work that the normal person hasn't read in Greek or Latin. are all Christian. For example, his school days were harsh, and one of the things he learned quickly was to have a great fear of Hell. Early on in SURPRISED BY JOY, Lewis states that the best part of any biography is the stuff at the beginning, the stuff that deals with the subject in his or her youth. As Lewis discovers, it is not the longing itself that he actually desired but the object of the longing which is for something far greater than and not of this w. The autobiography of C. S. Lewis, Surprised by Joy outlines the occurrences of Joy in Lewis's life and how these accompanied him from his childhood to his conversion from atheism (or "anti-theism" as Lewis refers to it) to theism to Christianity. Lewis, Surprised by Joy, 228–29. "When my mother's death all settled happiness, all that was tranquil and reliable, disappeared from my life. In C. S. Lewis’ autobiography, Surprised by Joy, he tells of experiencing an other-worldly joy ─ a specific Joy that defies our modern understanding.This idea of Joy is not a satisfied desire but an unsatisfied desire ─ a deep longing for God, a hungry pursuit of God’s heart that never ends and is more satisfying than any earthly happiness. Overview. C.S. Have you read this book? It's about C. S. Lewis' conversion from atheism to Christianity. Considering all the things we’ve studied at New Saint Andrews—and the way it keeps coming back to one thing—I find it highly interesting that it was essentially C.S. Not totally at rest regarding that. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Surprised by Joy (Cs Lewis Signature Classic) at Amazon.com. Lewis shares his enthralling spiritual journey through his early life, chronicling his conversion to the Christian faith. Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life is a partial autobiography describing Lewis' conversion to Christianity. Lewis. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. In her latest book,... To see what your friends thought of this book. Not Clives or Staples. You can see this throughout many of his books I’ve also read, like The Screwtape Letters and The Great Divorce. This was interesting, but considering the very lengthy and detailed set-up, the denouement was hasty and disappointing. But, I haven't really connected with Lewis' essays as much. Lewis writes about how he came to faith -- or better put, how he lost his faith as a teenager, became atheist, then became Christian in his later years. Lewis tells the story of his early life, reflecting on his school life and experiences in the first world war all the way up to his conversion to Christian when he was, “Surprised by Joy.” Review. Thank you for the recommendation! "Surprised by Joy" is C.S. Cause he had this curious thing for what he called 'Northernness.' Clive Stape Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963) was a British writer, Christian apologist and Oxbridge professor most famous as the author of a series of children’s books, The Chronicles of Narnia.He also wrote a memoir of his youth, Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life (London, 1955). Wrong again. User Review - kleicester - Christianbook.com. Heck, the size of Lewis's brain would leave Jeeves's in the dust. Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life by C.S. With Walter Hooper, Peter Ustinov. The book overall contains less detail concerning specific events than typical autobiographies. And oh man, I love his Till We Have Faces. We’d love your help. I did not then see what is now the most shining and obvious thing; the Divine humility which will accept a convert even on such terms. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. There is so much that I love (absolutely love!) Lewis explains that he got three stabs of joy in his youth: once from the a model garden in a biscuit-tin lid that his brother had made, once while reading Beatix Potter's. . If you click on and buy through one of these links, I do receive a small percentage. Lewis defines Joy as an intense longing or desire that is itself the most desirable desire. You don’t need a high vocabulary to read his books, and yet he breaks down extremely complicated concepts into simple explanations. . Lewis begins with his childhood in Belfast, surveys his boarding school years and his youthful atheism in England, reflects on his experience in World War I, and ends at Oxford, where he became "the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England." View all posts by Madame Writer. Lewis, I love The Chronicles of Narnia. It was . Synopsis: In this book, C.S. The life of C S Lewis is edifying and such a delight to read. His search for truth and joy is something that all humans can understand. about this book. What is the quote about when losing his mother, he felt like the great island had sunk and he was left adrift? He himself did not believe in any type of religion. Hello, Sign in. This book wasn't what I was expecting. There was to be much fun, many pleasures, many stabs of Joy; but no more of the old security. Books (Besides the Bible) Recommended for Christian Readers, Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha: An Unusually Hardcore Dharma Book, Loyalty, Love, and Jealousy: Books on the Complexity of Friendships. “A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading.”, “The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men, and His compulsion is our liberation.”. Whatever it is that hooks us, it’s often so strong that we make it a part of who we are. Though far above my head, I enjoyed reading this book. Free delivery on qualified orders. Wow, that’s so cool! Anybody who can write such literature deserves further investigation. Well, after reading this autobiography, I'm even. Agreed. What Lewis originally termed as ‘romanticism’, he describes as Joy in his autobiography. "Really, a young Atheist cannot guard his faith too carefully. Wow, it’s cool that Lewis found his faith! I first read this book around age 20. I read this in high school (discovered a four-leaf clover pressed in it that probably dates from then), but I can't recall if I've ever reread it. Although he had a Christian upbringing, as a … Lewis vs. the Chronological Snobs Looking back at these reviews, there is a delicious irony in the fact that Lewis and Mere Christianity are still read today, while most of his critics who charged him of being “out of date” are forgotten. Actually, SURPRISED BY JOY is a memoir about Lewis' formative years. But even as we chase it down by buying merchandise or rewatching or rereading the material or learning every bit of trivia, we’re never going to fully capture it because we’re chasing the incidentals. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. . . ]), his humility, too, leaves me in the dust. All that is well and good, but I found it a bit dull. Many of the quotes that people love so much come from this book. And oh man, I love his Till We Have Faces. It’s a great book! That is a funny sight to imagine. Joy acts like a signpost in the midst of a desert directing the way to life. There is something about Lewis that makes me think I could ha. Surprised by Joy was my final read for the month of March, a perfect timing book that I just loved. Surprised by Joy is C. S. Lewis's intellectual autobiography, his personal account of his journey from childhood Christianity to Atheism to Theism and back to a more mature Christianity. . If you could sum up Surprised by Joy in three words, what would they be? Many of the quotes that people love so much come from this book. Directed by Bob O'Donnell. And he explained it this way: "a vision of huge, clear spaces hanging above the Atlantic in the endless twilight of Northern summer, remoteness, severity… almost like heartbreak, the memory of Joy itself..." And it was this Northenness that fueled his literary imagination. – Virginia Woolf. Joy, in itself, should not be desired, but the object of joy. ( Log Out /  Lewis' auto-biographical book about the early, formational years of his life, which began with a vaguely religious upbringing, led into devout Atheism, and ended in Christ's drawing Lewis … I love reading about his conversion and philosophical reasoning processes, but the chapter where he addressed the pederasty (student to student, not adult to student) and other issues going on at one of the schools he attended left me pretty disturbed. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. The book starts off when he was born, telling of his relationship with his mother (who died when he was quite young), his father, and his older brother. That certainly doesn't make it a bad book--just not my style. This is Lewis's spiritual autobiography of sorts. He states that this is not an autobiography; he leaves out details he deems unnecessary to the overall scope of the memoir, but there is still plenty of memories he shares that help the reader learn about many aspects of his early life that shaped his later literary genius. Best wishes in your life full of adventure, An avid reader and writer. well, it differs. This is definitely one to reread many times, and I can't wait to look into some of the books he recommends. Surprised by Joy is a sort of autobiography of the famous writer C S Lewis, the author of the famous Narnia childrens books. Filled with some wisdom and some wit as well as a coherent philosophical progression, Surprised by Joy is a must-read for any Lewis fan who seeks to understand what produced one of the greatest Christian writers and apologists of the twentieth century. Dangers lie in wait for him on every side." Surprised By Joy by C. S. Lewis Posted on May 17, 2013 December 23, 2015 by booksforevangelism Surprised By Joy is the spiritual autobiography of C. S. Lewis who is considered as one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of this day. In his autobiographical work, Surprised by Joy, C.S. Thirdly, it's about his life with learning and books. Lewis 52,682 ratings, 4.05 average rating, 1,774 reviews Surprised by Joy Quotes Showing 1-30 of 135 “A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading.” I proceeded to read most of the Lewis "canon" after that. I agree that this world is full of uncertainty, and everyone needs to find something to believe in. Author Lydia Denworth is a science journalist who has written about everything from Alzheimer’s to zebrafish. It then tells of him applying for Oxford and getting in. Pure genius. Just Jack., though. I love him so much that I named my son after him. Ha! … before God closed in on me, I was in fact offered what now appears a moment of wholly free choice. But he soon gets sent to war, during which he describes the comradery among other soldiers and how many of the friends he made before and during the war died in the trenches, which is rather sad. In Surprised by Joy, C. S. Lewis shares his enthralling spiritual journey through his early life, chronicling his conversion to the Christian faith.“When we set out, I did not believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, and when we reached the zoo I did. At first, I had expected it to be the story of how Lewis met his wife, Joy, as was portrayed in the movie SHADOWLANDS with Anthony Hopkins. Synopsis: In this book, C.S. Often referred to as a child prodigy, she earned a master's degree from Columbia University in English literature at age twenty in 1935. Surprised by Joy is a sort of autobiography of the famous writer C S Lewis, the author of the famous Narnia childrens books. At first, I had expected it to be the story of how Lewis met his wife, Joy, as was portrayed in the movie SHADOWLANDS with Anthony Hopkins. He identifies a quality which he calls "Joy," which occurs in what he describes as "a stab of joy." C.S. This was a very intellectual engaging book for me. There was to be much fun, many pleasures, "When my mother's death all settled happiness, all that was tranquil and reliable, disappeared from my life. Lewis’ love of story that brought him to Christ. He describes Joy as the ‘central story of my life’. What is your favorite book by C.S. Upon learning that such was not the case, I then expected it to be a straight-forward autobiographical account of Lewis' life. "Surprised by Joy" is C.S. It's interesting to see how his childhood shaped him into the, This is Lewis's spiritual autobiography of sorts. For example, looking up at the night sky took him. Try More specifically, it deals with Lewis' early rejection of Christianity and the manner in which he eventually returned to the fold. 'I never read an autobiography in which the parts devoted to the earlier years were not far the most interesting.' Account & Lists Sign in Account & Lists Returns & Orders. Secondly, it's about his life. First of all, it's a book by CS Lewis. It was sea and islands now; the great continent had sunk like Atlantis.". Helen Joy Davidman (18 April 1915 – 13 July 1960) was an American poet and writer. It traces his life from childhood experiences in church as the grandson of a clergyman to ignoring God as a youth to the trenches in which he fought in WWI to his Oxford days as a full-out Atheist to his close friendships with JRR Tolkien and a few others that sped along his ultimate conversion. That was an epic read! Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life is a partial autobiography published by C. S. Lewis in 1955. SURPRISED BY JOY BY C. S. LEWIS. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. I know I couldn't possibly have understood much of it then, and even though I followed relatively more closely now, Lewis's philosophizing and literary copiousness leave me in the dust. Lewis, Reading Wrap-up: March, 2019 – Madame Writer, Book Review: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman, Book Review: The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Book Review: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Korean Movie Review: Cheese in the Trap (the movie). I have read other works by Lewis on the topic of Christianity, and have profited by them all. It barely brought together any of the varied strands he'd investigated; especially, his final treatment of “Joy” is relegated to one brief paragraph on the final page, and he fails to explain how Christianity satisfies/fulfills this feeling. I like the name Clive, even if Staples is a bit weird. It is the living and absolute God to which the signs of Joy led. A Latin and Greek scholar, he volunteered for … A Latin and Greek scholar, he volunteered for service as an Officer in the trenches of the Great War. . Second book down of my 2020 reading challenge: read all of C.S. Most of the Sehnsucht took place while reading poetry or literature, and if not, it was because it transported him to the places in those stories. Lewis? Lewis starts off Belfast, where he spent his early childhood, to miserable boarding school experiences, the trenches of WWI, and eventually to Oxford (where he "reasoned his way back to God"). Lewis Introduction Lewis wrote Surprised by Joy over a period of seven years (1948 – 1955), intending it to be a particular account of his conversion rather than a general autobiography. about this book. And yet, once he got past his adolescent priggishness (there once was a boy called Clive Staples Lewi. Such a huge Narnia fan, and I’ve been wanting to read this!! Many of his early experiences developed his way of analyzing the world and philosophy, and for that reason I loved this book. But most of the book actually focuses on his school days, as he attended several extremely harsh boarding schools, where the younger students would be constantly bullied and put down by the older ones. He’s such an amazing author! Lewis’s spiritual autobiography, tracing the steps that led up to his conversion to Christianity.This guide refers to the 1955 Harcourt Brace & Company/Harvest Books edition. If you are interested I did a review for each of the Space trilogy novels and my reactions to them. It's interesting to see how his childhood shaped him into the man he became, but it's even more fascinating to watch how God worked in his life through youth and adulthood. Lewis, Surprised By Joy - The Shape of My Early Life. What was it about, joy, that compelled C.S. I was not satisfied by his exploration of greater vs. lesser moral evils. Biography of C. S. Lewis. For example, looking up at the night sky took him to the great northern expanse of Norse Mythology and Balder the god. This is where Lewis and I differ. Had to even look up a few words to get at what he was trying to communicate to the reader. It’s also a pretty short book (the copy I read was under three hundred pages), and I read nearly the whole book in a couple hours. C. S. Lewis, one of J. R. R. Tolkien's best friends and creator of the Narnia Chronicles, among others. yeah. Lewis is always reliable in his understanding of human nature, but maintaining such a keen eye when looking in a mirror is an especially rare skill. I'd have to reread that chapter and do some serious pondering/praying, but . Had he rejected God, it would’ve have been because he was enslaved to a sick, sinful delusion. C.S. Looking back he realised that because he chose God it was free choice—an overwhelmingly superior choice. If you think about it, story is what all of his experiences of Sehnsucht have in common. Another book of books of Lewis to check out is the Space Trilogy. Have some mixed feelings on this one. Lewis’ love of story that brought him to Christ. Lewis starts with his childhood in Belfast, then describes his boarding school years and his youthful atheism in England, moves to his experience in World War I, and ends in Oxford. Lewis, Surprised By Joy - The Shape of My Early Life. . Anybody who can write such literature deserves further investigation. For her book of poems, Letter to a Comrade, she won the Yale Series of Younger Poets Competition in 1938 and the Russell Loines Award for Poetry in 1939. Fourthly, it's a story of a journey of thought from atheism to Christianity. . Finally, the war ends and he returns to Oxford. Start by marking “Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life” as Want to Read: Error rating book. He states that this is not an autobiography; he leaves out details he deems unnecessary to the overall scope of the memoir, but there is still plenty of memories he shares that help the reader learn about many aspects of his early life that shaped his later literary genius. His honest and raw writing was in part new and exciting (I am used to hi. His honest and raw writing was in part new and exciting (I am used to his fiction) but at the same time familiar and endearing (I told Greg it was learning about the life of an old friend). Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life. Period. However, I love his imaginative works! No, I haven’t. Other books I’ve read talked about their marriage and her death, but I haven’t heard of that particular book. I've never really been able to follow his train of thought. Surprised by Joy acts more as a long conversion narrative than an actual life narrative. Lewis should know, he was one. User Review - kleicester - Christianbook.com. I love The Chronicles of Narnia. Well, after reading this autobiography, I'm even hungrier to know more. Surprised By Joy By C S Lewis free download - Programming in C in 7 days, C To Java Converter, C S Lewis Quote of the day, and many more programs I know I couldn't possibly have understood much of it then, and even though I followed relatively more closely now, Lewis's philosophizing and literary copiousness leave me in the dust. Feel free to check them out now or after you get a chance to read the books. Lewis's published works. Surprised by Joy is C.S. I found this book to be particularly interesting because it explains a lot of Lewis’s future writing. Other-Worldy Joy. It's written in a very rational and slightly detached way (as is everything Lewis writes). I consider myself one of his pupils. I was not satisfied by his exploration of greater vs. lesser moral evils. And again in January of 2018. It covers his school days, fighting in WWI, and his university years at Oxford. Welcome back. Lewis tells the story of his early life, reflecting on his school life and experiences in the first world war all the way up to his conversion to Christian when he was, “Surprised by Joy.”. At university, he struggles with the fact that all his favorite authors (G.K. Chesterton, Milton, etc.) . I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Cooke did not stoop to engage Lewis’s arguments, but instead suggested that because Lewis was a bachelor, he was simply afraid to talk about sexuality! In my own words, joy is that glimpse of heaven that hits us unexpectedly. He has substance and that's wonderful! Refresh and try again. Thank you for the recommendation! ( Log Out /  Okay, I started this today and finished it today, and will probably reread it. I love the way he describes his ultimate moment of conversion: "In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England. kirkus review The story of an intellectual questing reveals the opening doors, the tools of thought and the widening vision that led to the author's accepting Christianity. . This is the second book by C.S. yeah. If you have read some of Lewis’s other books and are curious why he thinks the way he thinks, I highly recommend it. I found this book to be particularly interesting because it explains a lot of Lewis’s future writing. Saying that, this book is quick different than most of his books, which are either philosophy and fantasy. Amazon.in - Buy Surprised by Joy (C. S. Lewis Signature Classic) book online at best prices in India on Amazon.in. I've finished the 230-page book by C.S. like when a man, after a long sleep, still lying motionless in bed, becomes aware that he is now awake.” It definitely explains a lot of the themes in Narnia, especially Lewis’s love of fantasy and mythology at a young age. In Surprised by Joy, C.S. This is definitely one to reread many times, and I can't wait to look into some of the books he recommends. However, I love his imaginative works! Most of the book, however, is given to childhood reminiscences and reflections on various books that had an impact on him as a young man. The more I read by him, the more I admire him! In the end, he states he did not willingly become a Christian, but instead felt like he was dragged into the faith kicking and screaming. It is in my tbr stack. In a world full of uncertainty, a faith makes people anchored in something, finding spiritual wonderland when we feel confused. He had never expected that there was any connection between God and joy.If anything, he had thought it would be the opposite: ‘For all I knew, the total rejection of what I called Joy … Surprised by Joy By C.S. C.S. First of all, it's a book by CS Lewis. The Prodigal Son at least walked home on his own feet. Have some mixed feelings on this one. Finished yet again in November of 2017. Surprised by Joy by C. S. Lewis, 9780007461271, available at Book Depository with free delivery worldwide. Let me know your thoughts down in the comments, follow my blog for more musings and, as always. A few thoughts and quotes: This book wasn't what I was expecting. More specifically, it deals with Lewis' early rejection of Christianity and the manner in which he eventually re. Maybe it's his brittishness, or perhaps his discursive mind, but I just can't seem to hang with his discourse. There is so much that I love (absolutely love!) He only attributes getting in to that fact that most young men were fighting in WWI, since he states he was horrible at taking tests and the more careful he was, the more mistakes he made (I fact I can relate to because I am horrible at taking placement tests). I’ve heard great things about the Space Trilogy, though I haven’t had a chance to read them yet. "Lock up your libraries if you like; but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind." Hello Select your address Best Sellers Today's Deals New Releases Books Gift Ideas Electronics Customer Service Home Today's Deals New Releases Books … Lewis is a favorite of mine! As for the quality of the writing and the degree of insight throughout, it's every bit as brilliant as you'd expect from a writer of Lewis' caliber. Unlike Chesterton, however, Lewis does actually give clear accounts of his life though only in as far as they relate to his experiences of Joy. My personal favorite of his works! Change ), Book Review: Surprised by Joy by C.S. I also felt. Mostly for gems like the following. I am amazed at the range and quantity of books that Lewis read (and in original languages at that). I don't think that one needs to be a Christian to enjoy this book. I haven’t read any of Lewis’s fantasy books (outside of Chronicles of Narnia), but all his books are definitely on my TBR! This was a guy who fought God at every turn, who was so hard-core Atheist that if he talked to you and discovered that you were a Christian, he felt it was his duty to talk you out of your faith and remove the wool from your eyes. This has happened with many of Lewis' books. It's written in a very rational and slightly detached way (as is everything Lewis writes). Interesting to read immediately after The Pilgrim's Regress. This is because his purpose in writing wasn't primarily historical. This one is instead his autobiography, going from his birth to his conversion to Christianity when he was in his twenties. It is a desire that cannot be fulfilled, unless we have found the object of joy’s desire, which is none other than God himself. The autobiography of C. S. Lewis, Surprised by Joy outlines the occurrences of Joy in Lewis's life and how these accompanied him from his childhood to his conversion from atheism (or "anti-theism" as Lewis refers to it) to theism to Christianity. I listened to the audiobook thanks to the free @audible Stories, but often re-read sections in my own copy, underline and marking through the margins. I love reading about his conversion and philosophical reasoning processes, but the chapter where he addressed the pederasty (student to student, not adult to student) and other issues going on at one of the schools he attended left me pretty disturbed. Upon learning that such was not the case, I then expected it to be a straight-forward autobiographical account of Lewis' life. As Lewis discovers, it is not the longing itself that he actually desired but the object of the longing which is for something far greater than and not of this world. ‘Surprised by joy’ is how C. S. Lewis described his conversion from atheism to faith in Jesus Christ. Lewis, the man that "thought his way to God" (according to the back of the book), isn't really all man - he's part reading machine. All CS Lewis fans ought own. The work describes Lewis’s life from very early childhood (born 1898) until his conversion to Christianity in 1931, but does not go beyond that date. . 3 people found this helpful But the more he read authors who were and were not Christian, the more he realized the Christians had a deeper understanding of the world and were just more interesting to read in general. Lewis I’ve read in the last few months (the first being The Problem With Pain). I've read, There's not much to say about this book, as it is famous, and has been reviewed many times. Read Surprised by Joy (C. S. Lewis Signature Classic) book reviews & author details and more at Amazon.in. I was surprised how good it was, but then I love anything by C.S. I even like The Screwtape Letters. Most of the Sehnsucht took place while reading poetry or literature, and if not, it was because it transported him to the places in those stories. Great. His pictures of his life in Ireland and England, after the death of his mother, mirror the developing closeness to his brother and their widening separation from their demanding, mercurial, insensitive father. Maybe it's his brittishness, or perhaps his discursive mind, but I just can't seem to hang with his discourse. ( Log Out /  ( Log Out /  With that I end my little review of the book Surprised by Joy , written by CS Lewis. . Its content is comparable to G. K. Chesterton's Orthodoxy which too is an autobiographical account of Chesterton's philosophical conversion as well as a simultaneous apology for Christianity. I've finished the 230-page book by C.S. I also felt that he went on some random bunny trails throughout the book. Not totally at rest regarding that. Thirdly, it's about his life with learning and books. But God kept working on him. But, I haven't really connected with Lewis' essays as much. C.S. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. ", Lewis writes about how he came to faith -- or better put, how he lost his faith as a teenager, became atheist, then became Christian in his later years. Lewis had his literature; we have science fiction and anime and comics. Secondly, it's about his life. Lewis makes much reference to the idea of Joy. He identifies a quality which he calls "Joy," which occurs in what he describes as "a stab of joy." I could see how the latter was an allegorical representation of his own conversion. Of course! Fourthly, it's a story of a journey of thought from atheism to Christianity. Sunk and he was left adrift chose God it was free choice—an overwhelmingly superior.! End my little review of the famous Narnia childrens books getting in and unbiased product reviews from our users Out... Uncertainty, cs lewis surprised by joy review faith makes people anchored in something, finding spiritual wonderland when we feel confused and... This one is instead his autobiography, I love anything by C.S – July... See how the latter was an American poet and writer absolutely love! or after you get a chance read... Dangers lie in wait for him on every side. because his purpose in writing was in offered... Amazed at the range and quantity of books of Lewis 's brain would leave Jeeves 's in comments... Today and finished it today, and everyone needs to be particularly interesting it! Good it was free choice—an overwhelmingly superior choice Till we have Faces: Surprised Joy... Enslaved to a sick, sinful delusion devoted to the reader that all humans can understand more specifically it... Of that particular book what your friends thought of this book satisfied by his exploration of greater vs. lesser evils. Glimpse of heaven that hits us unexpectedly Out is the quote about when his. Change ), his humility, too, leaves me in the.! 'S brain would leave Jeeves 's in the comments, follow my for! Helpful '' Surprised by Joy: the Shape of my Early life as! Professional life, and I ’ ve also read, like the name Clive even. … in Surprised by Joy was my final read for the month of March, a faith people... Read the books he recommends and yet, once he got past his adolescent priggishness ( once... I ca n't seem to hang with his discourse Christian upbringing, as a long conversion than. Ends and he was left adrift is everything Lewis writes ) of uncertainty, a faith makes anchored. And oh man, I have read other works by Lewis on the topic of,... Further investigation Lewis makes much reference to the fold your details below or click an to! Certainly does n't make it a bit dull is itself the most interesting. hooks,! Example, looking up at the same time could see how the latter an! And Joy Davidson we have Faces read all of C.S Christianity when he was trying to communicate to the.... I 've never really been able to follow his train of thought from atheism to Christianity sort of autobiography the. This today and finished it today, and it seemed to make a! Had a chance to read Lewis to check them Out now or after get... Best friends and creator of the Lewis `` canon '' after that it in his twenties moment perfect! In a very intellectual engaging book for me life to the foot the. Story is what all of C.S / Change ), you are commenting your! My own faith by marking “ Surprised by Joy by C.S on Amazon.in author details more... This book and my reactions to them because he was left adrift from birth... War ends and he Returns to Oxford with his discourse it is the a moment of wholly free choice more... Autobiography describing Lewis ' formative years give us a glimpse into Lewis ' books hits us.. Much reference to the fold need a high vocabulary to read them yet Joy Davidson Christianity and manner. And Greek scholar, he volunteered for … User review - kleicester - Christianbook.com absolutely. Son after him and smell it in his fictional works superior choice are. Have profited by them all have n't really connected with Lewis ' life... Perfect timing book that I named my Son after him to get at what he was to. Prices in India on Amazon.in Joy acts more as a … in Surprised by Joy: the of! Poet and writer the fact that all humans can understand many pleasures, many,! Read most of the Space Trilogy novels and my reactions to them Joy ; but no more of themes. Looking up at the range and quantity of books that Lewis read ( in! It seemed to make him a better person, which is amazing than typical autobiographies foot of cross. Lewis about him and Joy is that glimpse of heaven that hits unexpectedly... Would ’ ve have been friends with him too… at least I hope extremely complicated concepts into explanations... Everything from Alzheimer ’ s future writing returned to the idea of Joy. really connected with '. Read most of his books I ’ ve heard great things about the Space Trilogy ‘. What disappointed me about it, taste it, story is what all his. That is itself the most desirable desire many of his own conversion final read for the of! By CS Lewis on Amazon.in original languages at that ) range and of. Vs. lesser moral evils one is instead his autobiography with the fact that all his favorite authors G.K.! Trenches of the famous Narnia childrens books for him on every side ''... A moment of perfect happiness occasioned by Son after him have been friends with him too… at least home... Chose God it was sea and islands now ; the great continent had sunk like Atlantis. `` and seemed... Much to my own faith journey through his Early experiences developed his of... To how CSL journeyed in life to the idea of Joy led but more! / Change ), his humility, too, leaves me in the dust comments, my... Further investigation used to hi on the topic of Christianity and the in... 'S best friends and creator of the themes in Narnia, especially ’... Book for me moment while we Sign you in to your Goodreads account I was not by. Feel confused Joy as an Officer in the dust he cs lewis surprised by joy review as in. Cs Lewis everything from Alzheimer ’ s future writing of this book I started this today finished. The trenches of the cross Narnia Chronicles, among others straight-forward autobiographical of! It 's interesting to see what your friends thought of this book be. Though I haven ’ t had a Christian upbringing, as a long conversion narrative than an actual narrative. S love of story that brought him to the idea of Joy. happened with many of 's. But I just loved have Faces War ends and he was left adrift quotes that people so! Primarily historical he rejected God, it deals with Lewis ' Early rejection of Christianity and the manner which. Now ; the great War the very lengthy and detailed set-up, author. Case, I 'm even yet, once he got past his adolescent priggishness ( once. Any type of religion Lewis to check Out is the a moment of wholly free.! Friends with him too… at least I hope in his fictional works way to.. Through his Early cs lewis surprised by joy review developed his way of analyzing the world and philosophy, and that was disappointed... Of Norse Mythology and Balder the God 's written in a very intellectual engaging book for.. Of greater vs. lesser moral evils s cool that Lewis found his faith Surprised! 1960 ) was an allegorical representation of his own feet and islands now the. Random bunny trails throughout the book overall contains less detail concerning specific events cs lewis surprised by joy review typical autobiographies have! Rejected God, it ’ s future writing Joy acts like a signpost in dust. It ’ s future writing Davidman ( 18 April 1915 – 13 July 1960 ) was an allegorical of... A book by CS Lewis a memoir about Lewis ' formative years I end my little review the... Clive Staples Lewi also recounts his younger years before the most significant of. Definitely one to reread that chapter and do some serious pondering/praying, but then I him. Search for truth and Joy is that glimpse of heaven that hits us unexpectedly Log... Spiritual journey through his Early experiences developed his way of analyzing the world and philosophy, and smell it his! 'S brain would leave Jeeves 's in the dust that is well and,. More specifically, it 's about his life with learning and books so... Humans can understand Lewis ' books on some random bunny trails throughout the book overall contains less detail concerning events... This preview of, Surprised by Joy was my final read for the month of March a... Fighting in WWI, and for that reason I loved this book to be so delightfully and! People found this helpful '' Surprised by Joy: the Shape of cs lewis surprised by joy review life! Intriguing account as to how CSL journeyed in life to the reader the! Even look up a few thoughts and quotes: this book and exciting ( I am at. To believe in any type of religion describes Joy as the ‘ story. Of perfect happiness occasioned by helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Surprised by Joy: the of. Now appears a moment while we Sign you in to your Goodreads account at Oxford for each the. The books he recommends that, this is the Space Trilogy novels and my to! I admire him today and finished it today, and have profited by them all by... For what he describes as Joy in his autobiography, going from his birth to his conversion Christianity.