Finding God in the Audio Cass

Publishers Weekly

Bruner, v-p for Focus on the Family's Resource Group, and co-author Ware say that they have written this book "to help fans of The Lord of the Rings discover how the rich fabric of Tolkien's fantasy world enhances a Christian understanding of our real world." They assume that readers will already be familiar with the entire trilogy. Each chapter explores a theme found in Tolkien's series, illustrates it from the story and then shows how this theme can also be found in the Bible. Most of the themes illustrated here that our small individual stories are part of a larger story that gives them more meaning, that we are called to undertake challenging missions beyond our comfort zones or that evil powers are actively scheming in the world will already have been obvious to Christian readers with the intelligence needed to read through the entire trilogy. Readers already familiar with the trilogy will find a few gems of insight, especially the epilogue on Tolkien's literary theory. But it seems much more likely that this book will appeal to those who, having seen the movie, are deciding whether to read the books for the first time. (Nov.) Forecast: Timed to coincide with the release of New Line Cinema's movie The Lord of the Rings, this guide will find an audience, but probably a different one from that which the authors envisioned. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

VOYA

Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy is enjoying even more popularity because of the publicity surrounding the motion picture trilogy, the first part of which premiered in late 2001. Given the hostility and suspicion with which some Christians view fantasy literature featuring wizards and magic, the reading public needs to remember that Tolkien was a staunch Christian. Although Bruner and Ware provide that reminder through this book, it probably will not convince the most hardheaded critics. Nevertheless the book does an admirable job of showing how Tolkien's beliefs informed his writing. Writing in a series of reflections, the authors take the reader through the trilogy with their goal being "to explore the inference of [Tolkien's] imagination, an imagination that could not help but reflect Christian themes. [It is] in this context that Tolkien described his fantasy as a fundamentally religious work growing out of his own faith journey." In the chapter "Deceptive Appearances," for example, the authors compare the first appearance of Strider and people's reactions to him with the story of David, the unassuming shepherd boy destined to be King of Israel, and with Jesus Christ. In "Unwitting Instrument," Gollum's final attack upon Frodo to regain the One Ring, only to fall into the Cracks of Doom and be destroyed, is said to illustrate how evil is used to serve God's own purposes. Each chapter quotes from Tolkien and from the Bible to reinforce the authors' message. Non-Christian readers can ignore this book, but it should be helpful for Christian teens and parents who need reassurance about their reading. Source Notes. VOYA CODES: 3Q 2P J S A/YA (Readable without serious defects; Forthe YA with a special interest in the subject; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12; Adult and Young Adult). 2001, Tyndale, 128p,
— Kat Kan