St. Mark Reformed ChurchPast Watchful Dragons

Stories and Your Children

Joe Thacker — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 13:51:56 +0000

In past posts I have recommended children’s stories, and given a brief analysis of the content. On his new blog, Jonathan Rogers has written an excellent post that touches on the ways in which we can help our children understand a story and what it may be teaching them. Toward the end of the post he also mentions some specific stories that may be of interest to you. I commend it to you – and his other posts, too.

Off the Shelf: Raven’s Ladder

Joe Thacker — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:15:54 +0000

Jeffrey Overstreet has done it again. Raven’s Ladder, the third installment in The Auralia Thread, is another tale full of twists and turns that will keep you delightfully off-balance, but also reflective. Since fiction is often a more able and accurate mirror of reality, the grittier nature of this volume challenges you on a personal level, while also making astute cultural observations. As with Auralia’s Colors and Cyndere’s Midnight, Raven’s Ladder has that depth of quality that gives you the sense that there is more to this story than first meets the eye, inviting you to read it again. In keeping true to form, the tantalizing ending leaves you guessing as to how the threads of this adventure will be woven together at last in the final book, The Ale Boy’s Feast.

A Taste for Imagination and Maturity

Joe Thacker — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:19:20 +0000

Posted this quote as a note on Facebook last year. However, having just come across it again, it is has left a fresh impression.

“It is usual to speak in a playfully apologetic tone about one’s adult enjoyment of what are called ‘children’s books’. I think the convention a silly one. No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally (and often far more) worth reading at the age of fifty – except, of course, books of information. The only imaginative works we ought to grow out of are those which it would have been better not to have read at all. A mature palate will probably not much care for creme de menthe: but it ought still to enjoy bread and butter and honey.” – C.S. Lewis, On Stories

Off the Shelf: Phantastes

Joe Thacker — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:38:15 +0000

In an effort to become better acquainted with the writings of George MacDonald, I decided to read his Phantastes, a work highly acclaimed by C.S. Lewis. I have to confess it was not what I was expecting, nor, shall I say, always an “enjoyable” read. At times the story felt quite cumbersome, and beyond my intellectual capabilities, but I could never dismiss Lewis’ words of praise. So on I trudged, and I am glad that I did. I will not pretend to have a thorough grasp of this work, because I do not. Nor do I think it is possible to really be able to comprehend MacDonald’s imagery simply after one reading. No, it is too dense for that. For all that was difficult, however, the overwhelming conclusion that I came to was that I need to read it again. Not necessarily tomorrow, mind you, but at a later time when I feel up for the challenge of a reflective fantasy, and can, perhaps, more greatly appreciate MacDonald’s genius.

That being said, I did notice a number of themes and patterns that emerged, and wish I had caught them sooner. Perhaps earlier awareness would have made the opaque sections clearer, but proving that out will have to await a second reading. So, what were some impressions?

The prominence of mirrors and reflection. This is something I wish I had picked up on sooner, but for about the last 100 pages MacDonald made frequent use of this imagery.
Anodos, the main character, goes through a number of “water ordeals” that almost have a baptismal/cleansing imagery about them.
This is a “coming of age” story in many respects, and arguably of one coming to age through faith in Christ (based on the ending, which I will not disclose).
Related to the point just mentioned, I almost wonder if MacDonald didn’t have Spenser’s The Fairie Queene in mind as he wrote his story; in the sense that Anodos meets and is apprenticed by the Red Cross Knight.
White is a very prominent color in the story, and there is an interesting Passover imagery (red marks on the door) later on that is significant.
There seems to be a recapitulation of the story within the story that MacDonald uses to provide the reader with clues about where his story is going, and its overall purpose.

Readily admitting my limited observations, I would gladly welcome further insights on this work If you have some, please share them.

Off the Shelf: Auralia’s Colors

Joe Thacker — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:36:32 +0000

Last night I finished Jeffrey Overstreet’s book, Auralia’s Colors. It is an engaging, beautifully descriptive, and masterfully woven tale. This is a story with layers. In fact, I am finding myself tempted to pick it up and start over again to see what else I can glean from it’s pages. The climax and ending were not what I was expecting, so now I am left to impatiently await the arrival of the second book of the series in the mail, Cyndere’s Midnight. If you enjoy a bit of fiction, you will not be disappointed by Auralia’s Colors.

Story Time

Joe Thacker — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:06:50 +0000

From time to time I hope to share some of the stories we’ve been reading to our boys. Deborah and I are always on the lookout for more good books to read to them (and enjoy ourselves). I hope you’ll share some of your favorites too. Here are a few that have stood out of late.

Mortimer’s First Garden, by Karma Wilson, is a very clever allegory of the “mustard seed theology” of the kingdom of God. The story moves from misunderstanding about the kingdom; to the beginning of the kingdom at the resurrection; to the perseverance of faith, culminating at last in feasting and rest.

The Book of Giant Stories, by David L. Harrison; illustrated by Philippe Fix. There are three short stories, the first of which we liked the best, but the illustrations are especially impressive.

The Water of Life is a Brother’s Grimm tale retold by Barbara Rogasky; illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. Classic stuff. Hyman has also illustrated Margaret Hodges’ works Saint George and the Dragon and The Kitchen Knight, Lloyd Alexander’s The Fortune-Tellers, and scores of others.