Group Read - Til We Have Faces

We are planning a quick read of Til We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis beginning May 11th and proceeding for about a week or so. Anyone who is interested, please feel free to join in the fun!

Well, I did a quick check on the book, and the first sentence of the first review that I saw said "This is the best book that I have ever read." So I will try to find a copy to read along with you. :)
--BJ

Glad to have you with us, BJ. I hope you find a copy. Which reminds me, I better go find mine . . .

Unfortunately I can't go to the library for a while because I'm quite ill, so if my library still has it in two weeks I'll also be joining you. :)

I hope you feel better soon, Tammie, and are indeed able to join us!

I'd like to join. I have the book on reserve at my library and expect to get it by the weekend. Thanks!

Glad to have you, Terri!

Stasia

Thanks for starting this thread. I've put my copy on the table next to my reading chair--ready to go on the 11th of May!

GAH! Must find copy!

I was stubborn and actually did go to the library today to get the book. ;) My body didn't approve at all, but it was nice to get some fresh air too. Looking forward to reading this book. :)

I shall try to join in if I can, although right now it's not looking promising. The online library catalogue has crashed, so I can't find out yet whether they have a copy.

#10: Tammie, I am not sure whether to say "I am glad you got the book" or "You should not have been out to get the book, we do not start until May 11th", but in either case, I am glad you are joining us.

#11: Caty, you have until May 11th to get the book, so do not worry about it. Hopefully the online catalogue will be up by then!

>12 alcottacre: I can get to the Library to check the catalogue in person next week if the online version is still down. The problem comes if they don't have it (and I don't think they will, although I could very well be wrong) because it seems to be out of print in the UK and I can't even get a second-hand copy for less than £8. It's been on my wishlist for ages.

#13: Caty, do you have interlibrary loans there? Maybe that would be a route you could consider if your local library does not have a copy.

>14 alcottacre: Yes, that's plan B

I made it to the library. They didn't have the book there, but I have it on order with estimated arrival in 10 days. If it arrives in time, I'll join in.

Never did a group reading of a book! Sound like fun! Can I join in or do you guys already have a set group?

>17 WilowRaven: Everyone is welcome - jump right in.

#17: Glad to have you with us!

I just put a hold on it through the library--they'll have to dig it out of central storage, but it should be here before the 11th. I've never read it.

#20: I look forward to seeing your input on the book, too, Roni! Glad you are with us.

I hope everyone has located a copy of the book - we start reading next Monday!

I got my copy and boy are the reviews positive! Yea!
--BJ

Never done online group reading, but I do have the book on hold at the library to pick up by Saturday. See you on Monday.

I haven't gotten a message from the library yet, but it should be coming soon.

I can not get this from my library or ILL. I'm going to keep trying! Maybe I can order it from the bookstore. It sounds wonderful!

I hope you can get a copy!

I'm so glad I have til Monday. I have my book (I've owned it for years and have never read it!) but I can do some catching up this week after a very stressful April and be ready to really enjoy this read! See y'all Monday!

I just checked the library website and it says the book is waiting for me to pick up at my neighborhood library branch.

I'd like to join in, I have owned a copy for several years and never read it. Problem is, when I sign up for read-alongs I suddenly lose all desire to read the book. So... I'm not saying I'll join you, I'm only saying I'd like to. ;)

It arrived ahead of schedule! Hooray!

Cool beans!

I hope everyone has their copies in hand - we start tomorrow! I figure we will read until the 18th, that way everyone has a full week including the weekend to read the book. Does that sound all right to everyone?

I was just looking at the book wondering how we were supposed to proceed--by chapters or just read until we are done. And here you are to tell me the latter, right on top of things as usual.

#34: I am glad I am on top of anything at the moment, Roni :)

The 18th is my daughter's graduation. (Yea!!) I will try to get it all read by then, but I might not be able to comment for a couple more days as I will have company. (Yea!!) This looks like a good one. I am ready!
--BJ

#36: I am sure the discussion will be ongoing beyond the 18th, BJ, so just chime in when you can. Congrats to both you and your daughter on the graduation!

I'm starting it later today. :) (it's already Monday here) Looking forward to this one!

I just found this message board, and just in time! I'm going to pick up a copy tonight. Thanks for organizing!

Well, I got my library copy, but have a couple of others to finish to return to the library before leaving for my son's graduation on Saturday. However, I will start tonight, and I've been reading books chapter by chapter or quarter by quarter--whichever suits the writing style of the author. I enjoy most of Lewis, but I've used both methods, depending on the book. This will be a challenge.

I started reading my library copy on Friday, and can hardly put it down. I even ordered a copy for me to own. I'm glad we're not going by chapters, because I'd be hard-pressed to stop reading it!

Read 46 pages today and I really love it so far! :)

I am bowing out of this group read, sorry to say. I have too many library books due and too much else going on at the moment. I hope you all enjoy the book! To me, it is the best of Lewis' fiction.

Sorry you can't continue, Stasia. But I understand how hard it can be sometimes to keep up with everything!

I've read the 1st 7 chapters and hope I will be able to finish it this weekend. Otherwise I will probably have to wait until next weekend. I am really enjoying the book. I had no idea what to expect and it seems very different from many of his other fiction stories that I've read. It is beautifully written.

I am about 1/3 of the way through the book. I just love it. I will be a little late with it due to graduation, but I will finish this book next. :)
--BJ

#44: I am going to try and get back to the book later in the year, Carolyn, but with the situation with my father and just life in general at the moment, I am having to reprioritize things that I normally take for granted. I have not been keeping up with the threads here on LT, for example. I am still reading, because more than I normally do, I need the books right now. I just have a ton of them from the library!

I will be thinking of you, Stasia. I hope that things get better.
--BJ

#47: Thanks BJ!

I finished this one sometime yesterday, and I must say it was definately a great read! I hope you'll all like it is as much as I did. :)

I have overcommitted, and so will not be done with this book until Wednesday. But I'll join the discussion then!

I'll probably be ready by Wednesday, also. Loving the book but no time to read this weekend--at least so far.

I finished this book this morning, and I absolutely loved it! I can't wait to "chat."

I'm so glad I found this group because it is not a book I would have ever found (or read) on my own.

I am so glad you enjoyed it Bridget!

Finished! I enjoyed this book a lot, although there are some parts that I'm still trying to get my head around.

Have it in hand, but just back from my son's college graduation and will start reading today, hoping to finish over the weekend. I will follow the thread until then, so chat away, please.

#54: I totally agree, CaryM...I think I need to do some rereading towards the end. I am visiting with my daughter and family and have no business reading anything of a serious nature with my grandchildren around to distract me. Then, if I try to wait until they go to bed, I am exhausted and unable to concentrate. Anyway, I finished Till We Have Faces and wrote my review of it which I may be editing after I do some more pondering.

I totally fell in love with "the Fox" who exemplified the selfless and sacrificial love that Orual could not muster up. I kind of wish that Lewis had retold the story more from his perspective. But then, we wouldn't have had the Queen Warrior image that was so powerful.

POSSIBLE SPOILERS:

I finally finished this book this morning, and I just thought it was a tremendous read. I thought that Part 2 was so thought-provoking when Orual looked back over her life to see the way she expressed love and the way to express selfless love. Overall, she did a lot of good in her life, but the realization of what constitutes true love made her life more complete. This book had a positive message for me, plus I thought it was just a great story. This was the first time I had ever read a myth retold, and I will want to read more now. Thanks for a great suggestion!!

I also thought The Fox and Bardia were great characters and true examples of selflessness. All the wonderful characters in this book combined to make it such a great story -- not just a great message.
--BJ

I just finished as well. I have to think about it before writing anything, but wanted to let the group know. Are we still waiting for anyone else to finish? (Sorry for taking so long.)

Well, I'm nearly half-done, but don't wait on me. I'm a fast reader and will merrily join in when finished.

I finished today--will ponder it tonight when I can't sleep while I'm at the sleep disorders center for my test tonight. :-)

I loved the book and will write a review tomorrow or Friday. Right now all I can say is "wow!" I want to reread part two before I comment.

Okay, so any comments? I've been reading the new rewritten myth series that includes The Penelopiad and Dream Angus, among others, and I'm generally a fan of C.S. Lewis's adult works of fiction. I found this book one of the easiest to read by him--without a lot of the overt sermonizing in books like Pilgrim's Regress and his science fiction trilogy (of which I've read two of the three volumes). In some respects, it was more like The Screwtape Letters where the reader is being given a version by one party in the narrative, and the ending is not quite what you think it might be.

I did enjoy this book, both for the story and for the characters, and will recommend it to others.

#61

I hope to find time to write my comments this afternoon (it's about 1:00 PM here)--but I will say I can see why C.S. Lewis considered it one of his finest books--I loved it!

For those of you who don't want to search my thread to find it--here is my "review" (i.e. comments) about Till We Have Faces.

It is difficult to write a review of this book because I think it is imperative that nothing about the plot or the characters ought to be revealed to those who have not yet read it. As I explain below each reader seems to bring something of himself to the story which will be influenced as the story unfolds and winds around. Any knowledge of what will be occurring might disturb this involvement and identification with the story.

When I started the book I knew it was a retelling of the Cupid and Psyche myth and that C.S. Lewis was a Christian writer and thought that this novel was one of his finest works. It did not take long for me to be so involved in the story that I felt like I experienced it rather than read it. (My biggest frustration was that I had to read it at my busiest time of the year and I resented anything that forced me to have to put the book down and get to work.) The story is compelling, the characters are interesting and well drawn, and the “country” Lewis created for the story to take place in was fascinating and utterly believable. Needless to say I loved this novel! However, what has struck me most after finishing it is that as I read comments of other readers each person seems to have a unique opinion about what the story really says—or means—and which characters were wise or sensible and which ones needed more sense. This would make a great book for a book group discussion if you could find a group that would love to discuss and be able to “agree to disagree.” Highly recommended. 5 stars

So we really should discuss it! Right? Because we haven't yet. Not really. What was your favorite scene in the book?

I liked the scene in the book where Orual fought the swordfight. I thought that she really proved herself to be the Warrior Queen there. It was sort of a turning point for her.
--BJ

Thanks, BillieJean. Orual's description of her feelings and fears during the preparation for and during the actual fight certainly made it memorable.

I was thinking of reframing the question to, which scene in the book do you feel the most passionately about? More scope.

I found Psyche's journey to the deadlands to be most harrowing. When I read it the first time I really wondered if Psyche would be able to avoid Orual this second time and I felt it took forever to get there to find out. Rereading it now to check my memory I was surprised how short the passage actually is.

Now I wonder what would have happened if Psyche had denied Orual's appeal the first time. Psyche knew when she disobeyed and looked on the god that all her happiness would be destroyed but Orual's life would be saved. She also know if she didn't do it Orual would kill herself and be irredeemably lost. What I wonder is, would Psyche have been able to be happy if she had ignored Orual's plea in order to stay in her paradise?

edited to add missing word.

I wish I had caught this tread in time. Til We Have Faces is a Great Book and I need to re-read it. It has been a long time.