Customer Reviews

Great Divorce

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This brilliant little piece of literature takes only an hour or two to read, but will foster a lifetime of contemplation and thought concerning heaven and hell. What if God gave people in hell (which, in the novel, is a gray, drab, lonely place) a second chance at heaven? Would they take it, or would they desperately hang on to their miserable lives, which is a hell in itself? Lewis, in his "dream", sees a procession of people who are given that chance and, sadly, hardly any take it. That illustrates what I've always believed about hell: God doesn't send you there, you basically send yourself by rejecting His free gift of salvation. To those "ghosts" in hell, heaven is actually a scary place, at least at first. Most don't want to go any further past the "hard part" to the glories that reside up the "mountain". Some may get a little tripped up by the rather unorthodox theological implications, but don't let that hinder you. Just enjoy the ride, and let it speak deeply to your spirit.

The format of the story is this:

A bunch of "ghosts" board a bus in a dreary, drizzly town which is in perpetual twilight (we later learn that this place is "the valley of the shadow of death"). This flying bus takes them up to a bright (as in "a minute or two before sunrise") natural setting (which we later learn is "the valley of the shadow of life"). Here the narrator (presumably Lewis himself) sees how without substance the ghosts (including himself) really are. They are not even substantial enough to bend the grass beneath their feet. Some of them are barely visible. They are met by "spirits" (each ghost has a specific spirit coming to meet him/her) who are bright and solid.

The narrator describes each "interview" he sees between ghost and spirit. Each interview highlights a specific manifestation of pride, greed, selfishness, pettyness, manipulation - any of the sins that weigh us down. Eventually, the narrator meets the spirit sent for him (writer George MacDonald).

If you read this book, you will see a lot of people you know.

If you read this book HONESTLY, you will find pieces of yourself as well.

This book is a magnificent moral story. An absolute must read!

If I had to choose only one book (excluding the Bible) as my all time favorite, this would be it. I was brought up as a Catholic and turned Protestant. This book helped put into perspective the concept of Purgatory and the idea that God does not send anyone to Hell, rather, they choose to go themselves. The imagery in this book is wonderful, the senarios are timeless. I have read this book many times, but I have to keep buying new copies because I love this book so much that I keep giving it to other people to read.

C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite authors. I read this book expecting great things and Lewis delivered. In the characters I saw something of myself, the human condition and the meaning of Life. The insights in this book range from the trivial to the profound, something for everyone. For example, Lewis explains how Time and Eternity make it possible for us to have both our free will and our destiny. He shows how important we are, yet also how insignificant we can become if we choose not to see our spiritual paths.

The is truly a Christian classic. In this book, CS Lewis gives you a glimpse of hell, and a glimpse within your own soul in ways that will have you relating completely to the characters. CS Lewis does a magnificent job of illustrating the denials and rationalizations that are faced by society, and even though this book was written decades ago, one can see the timelessness of his message. One must be ever vigilant! It is an insightful commentary on our human nature and often our obsession with being self-centered. Without you knowing it, CS Lewis touches on some basic theological issues, but without what some would consider his usual "headiness". This book, along with The Screwtape Letters can serve as a good introduction to the writings of C.S. Lewis.

The book, the Great Divorce, by C.S. Lewis, is nothing shy of amazing! Lewis' style, and use of language allures, and captures the reader, taking them right into the heart of this book. I was definitely intrigued by the title, and then completely captivated by the content! Once you start reading, you'll never wanna stop. The Great Divorce should definitely be considered one of Lewis' greatest works. Lewis parallels the great debate, and internal struggle that man(persons) have in relation to God. This book will really drive you to think about God, and if God exists, and God's awesomeness. Give it a read, I'm sure you'll agree.

The wonderful thing about C.S. Lewis was that he put an amazing amount of thought into his faith. He understood better than most that becoming a Christian meant constantly trying to understand more, to examine both one's self and one's relationship to God. His penetrating intellegence towards Christianity is something that is often lacking in religion, and every time I read Lewis I learn something new, both about myself and my faith. Lewis is a true master. Another author who I'd highly recomend to anyone who enjoys Lewis, one who explores the Christian faith as brilliantly as Lewis, is Brian Caldwell. His novel, We All Fall Down is breathtaking. I'd put him on a par with Lewis, both for writing ability and theological brilliance. His novel is one of the few Christian masterpieces. Both Lewis and Caldwell should be read by those who have discovered God and want to explore that faith as deeply as possible, and perhaps more importantly, by those who have not.

This book show's how horrible sin is. How it ruins people, How it ruins their minds. Read this book and think about yourself. Think about what you are holding onto in life, and ask yourself if its worth it. This book should shed some light on the subject.

This is a delightful work of fiction. Lewis is unparalleled in his ability to intertwine spiritual truths with the human psyche. As also shown in The Screwtape Letters, Lewis has unusually keen insight into human behavior and this behavior manifests itself in spiritual dynamics. There are portraits both tragic and comic in this book that, taken as isolated examples, soberly illustrate how petty grievances, grumbling, and the need to control others reveal eternal separation from God. This is consistent with Lewis's notion in The Screwtape Letters that cards can just as easily lead someone to hell as murder. These are cautionary tales that focus on the common foibles of humans - and this, as much as a strength, is also its weakness. Theologically, it tends to too greatly emphasize the free will and sovereignty of humans rather than God. God appears as one who stands by, waiting and hoping that each will give up the petty sins that separate them from eternal joy. This image directly contradicts the God of the Sciptures, whose eternal decrees are not dependant on the actions of the created to carry them out. He is the Potter and we are the clay - a concept clearly set forth in Scripture. In short, it is a wonderful parable and should be read by all thinking Christians, but those same thinking Christians should understand the difference between good literature and good theology.