Monthly Archives: June 2014

C.S. Lewis Really Should Have Seen it Coming: More On the Dangers of Reading

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Brenton Dickieson

Last year I wrote a post called, “Be Careful What You Read… C.S. Lewis’ Literary Encounter with George MacDonald.” It got a big readership, partly (I think) because it turns our expectations upside down. According to research by sociologist David … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged atheism, C.S. Lewis, convert, david downing, David Kinnaman, George MacDonald, J.R.R. Tolkien, literature, mysticism, philosophy, Reading | 22 Comments

The Absence of Presence: C.S. Lewis’ Strained Relationship with his Father

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Brenton Dickieson

I have written another blog on the death of C.S. Lewis’ mother and the haunting role it played in his life. Quite apart from the absence of his mother, her dead led to an unexpected consequence: a strain in his … Continue reading →

Posted in Memorable Quotes | Tagged Albert Lewis, C.S. Lewis, Death, father, Surprised by Joy, Warren Lewis | 8 Comments

On 2048, Or The Keep It In The Corner Approach to Writing (#WritingWednesdays)

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Brenton Dickieson

I hate to admit it, but I am one of the recent victims of 2048. For those that don’t know, 2048 is a relatively new meme in smart phone apps. The idea is simple: combine two-point value boxes to double … Continue reading →

Posted in On Writing | Tagged 2048, focus, On Writing, Stephen King, writing, Writing Advice, Writing Wednesdays | 8 Comments

Russian Medievalist Tolkien

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Brenton Dickieson

Here is an absolutely gorgeous blog by Grimmella. I first met Grimmella in The Hobbit Read-Along. Here she gathers together some of the pictures from a Russian edition of The Hobbit. They really do look like plates from a medieval … Continue reading →

Posted in Fictional Worlds, Reflections | Tagged art, children's literature, fantasy, J.R.R. Tolkien, Medieval Art, The Hobbit | 13 Comments

What If He Is Actually Evil? Thoughts on the Moncton Murderer

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Brenton Dickieson

In Eastern Canada we have been holding our breath as the RCMP (our national police force) scoured the city of Moncton, New Brunswick for an armed killer on the loose. Witnesses say Justin Bourque ambushed police officers, killing three and … Continue reading →