March book reviews, part 3

Another installment in the book reviews about my current reading.

Today: Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis.

I am always enthralled by my latest good book, but I am sure this is by far my favorite.

After a rash of sports books, I hardly know how to review a regular book—especially one as good as this.

In a mix of autobiography and a case on how he came to his Christian faith, C.S. Lewis shows some of his best writing in Surprised by Joy. He tells a good story, making us really see what it was like to grow up in his shoes (or, as he so vividly describes, his pants that buttoned at the knee, leaving him with red marks on his leg every night). Better yet, he helps us see the Joy that surprised him so well.

Lewis's technique starts with giving a basic telling of his life, which goes from his childhood through his schooling to the war through his time in academia. In the midst, he gives humorous accounts of different situations he faced, such as poor teachers or the discovery of a great new book, and insights into regular parts of growing up, such as understanding his father.

But Lewis also uses the simple telling of his life story to set up a platform for what he sees as the reason for his life: the discovery of God. In the first chapter, he introduces "Joy," that state where he gets a glimpse of God through something on this earth, although he doesn't know quite what he's feeling or where it's pointing him to.

Lewis carries this theme throughout the book as God uses friendships, literature, aesthetic settings, and other experiences to challenge Lewis's thinking and give him more glimpses of Joy. Eventually, it all clicks for Lewis. Titling one of his chapters "checkmate," Lewis is clear on how God methodically cleaned out his pawns, bishop, and queen until Lewis recognized the King.

The path there is a beautiful one, and Lewis does a great job capturing the human existence as he explains his journey. The reader sees how Lewis's views were shaped by customs and events similar to ones we all face, and the reader can identify with many parts of Lewis's story.

All the way, Lewis weaves the story around the theme that is Joy, providing a compelling centerpiece that all who can understand will see their narratives circle around as well. His passages on Joy, although few, are exhilarating, and you can find yourself excitedly anticipating the next mention, to see how Lewis will tie it in with the human experience we all have.

Lewis not only tells a good story in an interesting way but also clearly explains his philosophical path to God in an understandable way. You don't have to get deep concepts to see his different views throughout the book, and he connects them and shows the progression without boring the reader. Yet he also gives enough of a glimpse of the rabbit holes he ran through that readers can venture further if they wish.

Lewis is a great writer, and he always gives a good explanation. The book is good throughout, with passages of sheer brilliance. For even those who are not Lewis fans, there's a nice story, spots that encourage thought, and a tantalizing description of that feeling we all have but can't quite pin down until we're surprised by God.

His story, albeit about a dowdy Englishman, is funny, well-written, deep, resolving, and uplifting.