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Rating: 
Summary: C.S. LEWIS, The Oxford Early Years
Review: A book with such a dry-sounding title will necessarily cause the prospective reader, even the fans of CSL, to wonder whether it is worth its price and the effort of reading it. To answer that question, I would say that the book is of real value to both the diehard Lewisophile, and the researcher of well-known characters from that period of Oxford such as John Betjeman (Lewis's comments chime nicely with the biography of 'The Young Betjeman' by Bevis Hillier). This book is for anyone who has already read: 1) the Lewis autobiography, 'Surprised by Joy'; 2) 'Jack: a life of C.S. Lewis', the biography by his good friend, George Sayer; and 3) the official biography by W. Hooper and R.L. Green. I would rank it about equally with books like 'C.S. Lewis at the Breakfast Table and Other Reminiscences' by James T. Como, and Kathryn Lindskoog's books, but before his collections of letters. The time period covered is given by the title which covers his study for the second of his three degree subjects, to the second year of his English Fellowship at Magdalen. On eventually being offered a position, he was asked would he mind teaching some philosophy as well as English. In a letter to his father, he records that by that time he would have 'agreed to coach a troupe of performing bagbirds in the quadrangle' - the Lewis wit not yet baptised. His main motive for keeping the diary was that the entries were read aloud to his companion Mrs Moore, who kept house for him. If he allowed the diary to lapse, she would prompt him to start again. This is all to the good in terms of a candid insight into his life, as publication would be the last thing he would have expected. The published text is well edited, and generally gets the flavour of his domestic and college life. The general range and depth of his intellectual life is captured particularly well, with Shakespeare, Sigmund Freud, Havelock Ellis, and a variety of philosophical savants (now mostly forgotten) being the daily diet. There are some surprises in the text. I was surprised at the extremely social nature of his life at this time. Far from a life of solitary study, the steady stream of houseguests, companionable walks, and visits to the theatre or musical performances form a large part of the normal routine. Without doubt the most horrifying section is his account of their attempt to help 'The Doc', who goes mad shortly before his death. This reminded me of the later Lewis who was to write 'A Grief Observed' - an account of his wife dying, and his coming to terms with it - a rare blend of compassion and self-analysis. At the end of the book is a fascinating but rather uncompromising set of nine pen-portraits of his Magdalen colleagues. These are private notes, and not intended for publication, but we see how the lancet accuracy of his analysis is turned with equal facility on human nature or literary works. It explains why he could be unintentionally intimidating, and why he was not equally appreciated by all his colleagues.
Rating: 
Summary: The Most Interesting, Well-Written Diary I Have Ever Read!
Review: I have always been a big fan of C.S. Lewis and this book is just one more glorious example of his skill and his intuitive writing. In fact, his diary gives us a clear picture of the man he was, and the man God was to make of him in later years. God's gifts are irrevocable and this book is a testament to that reality. C.S. Lewis was given an amazing talent to write and in his diary I can see the shaping of his mind and his heart, long before he professed to be a Christian. There is something so humble and unassuming about Mr. Lewis' writings. He was, in essence, a very simple man who led a complex mental life. I finished this book with a sense of amazement at the grace of God, who used an atheist to give the world a clearer picture of Christianity and all that it stands for. C.S. Lewis' words are always encouraging, even in his days as an unbeliever, he still managed to write reflectively and with an imcomparable sincerity. This book/diary is worth its weight in gold!
Rating:
Summary: The Most Interesting, Well-Written Diary I Have Ever Read!
Review: I have always been a big fan of C.S. Lewis and this book is just one more glorious example of his skill and his intuitive writing. In fact, his diary gives us a clear picture of the man he was, and the man God was to make of him in later years. God's gifts are irrevocable and this book is a testament to that reality. C.S. Lewis was given an amazing talent to write and in his diary I can see the shaping of his mind and his heart, long before he professed to be a Christian. There is something so humble and unassuming about Mr. Lewis' writings. He was, in essence, a very simple man who led a complex mental life. I finished this book with a sense of amazement at the grace of God, who used an atheist to give the world a clearer picture of Christianity and all that it stands for. C.S. Lewis' words are always encouraging, even in his days as an unbeliever, he still managed to write reflectively and with an imcomparable sincerity. This book/diary is worth its weight in gold!
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