Drabble Geeks

Geeks…Being Total Geeks.

Tag: religious

An Entirely New World Pt 7

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I have officially done it; I have finished a series that I guess I could technically say that I’ve been reading since I was a child. That’s right, I have officially finished the Chronicles of Narnia. I honestly believe that this last book, The Last Battle, is one of the best books of this series and does not hold back with the religious allegory. If you weren’t sure before, well, you’re sure now.

Overall, I think the series is… okay. Some books are definitely more memorable than others, while some I sometimes feel were not worth my time. And because I don’t want you to waste your time, I’ll tell you the ones I think are worth it. You may disagree, but you’re allowed to. My top books of the series are the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, followed by the Magician’s Nephew and the Last Battle. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is a great introduction to the world and the magic that surrounds it. The Magician’s Nephew is a wonderful prologue that delves deeper into the creation of the. Finally, The Last Battle is a fantastic ending. Yes, if you are only reading those books, you are going to miss some information on some characters, but I think it’s worth it if you just want the main sense of what Narnia is. There are some interesting series of events that occur across the other books, but I think those three are “the books” to read in this series.

While I may not have enjoyed some of the plots, I loved the world development and the thoughtfulness Lewis put into everything. I had to go back through some of my religious knowledge to catch on to everything. Also, because I read the series in publication order, there were some call-backs that would make me gasp as I remembered the stuff from the previous books and put some of the pieces together. Maybe some fans will disagree with the order I have read everything in, but I definitely enjoyed my travels into this new world.

Religous History Reimagined Pt 2

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In the amazing work that comes from the Dan Brown, I have finished rereading the second book in the Robert Langdon series, The Da Vinci Code. As much as I loved this book, it was somewhat awkward to read again. For whatever reason, this book was still so deeply ingrained in my head, all of the twists in turns that were involved didn’t really get to me. Somethings did because I totally forgot that it was a thing. I was also trying to find proof that would somehow prove what I thought was true really wasn’t. Either way, I still loved this book. I still picture Robert Langdon as Tom Hanks and I don’t think anything will change that. Once again, I’m not too well versed in Catholicism or any of the secret society’s that were mentioned. What I loved the most was that it was still very much rooted in the first book. The main source of this book happening was because of the events of the first one. I do kinda wish the Langdon could have a more platonic partner instead of people that could be potential love interests. He has a thing for women who just had a family member die it seems.

Religious History Reimagined Pt 1

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With more books being written in this series, I felt that it was time to get back into the Robert Langdon series by Dan Brown. I started to adventure with the first book Angels and Demons. Yes, this is the first book and not The Da Vinci Code like so many people think. To start, I would like to say that I will be using the word mythos when describing aspects of this series. The word “mythos,” according to Merriam-Webster, is a pattern of beliefs expressing often symbolically the characteristic or prevalent attitudes in a group or culture. By using this word, I am not trying to express my own opinions of the religions and cultures expressed in these novels. If there is a better word that could be used, feel free to say so. I will take it into consideration. But, on with the review…

The first thing I have to say is how well researched this series is. I had the privilege to read the illustrated edition. It was amazing to see pictures of all of the places explored in the novel. This novel explores the “battle” between science and religion. It is well done in a way that doesn’t choose a side. Every character has different opinions regarding the matter, and everyone respects the other’s opinions. The dialogue in this way is well written and not really a fluff piece. I also enjoyed how points of view shifted. It is not often that changes in point of view are done so seamlessly, but it was well done here. All the characters are believable and intriguing. I loved everything about this book. I personally don’t really know much about the Catholic church. After asking my best friend about it as they are Catholic, I realized that it was much more accurate than I thought. They told me that the mythos of the church as it related to the book and different things. They also explained some things that I didn’t quite get, so that was also amazing. Also, from reading the acknowledgments at the end, I realized that the author actually went to the places described in the book. If that doesn’t add to it, I don’t know what does.