Tolkien in Perspective: Sifting the Gold from the Glitter

Rating:
Summary: Evangelical analysis of Tolkien
Review: Greg Wright's book is an evangelical analysis of the Tolkien myth. I would recommend it to evangelicals who misunderstand the Christian basis of Tolkien's myth, or who wish to explain to one's stricter relatives why Tolkien is a good Christian.

I enjoyed Wright's analysis. He goes into detail into the general ideas behind the LOTR myth, analyzing the secular and Catholic roots of the story. (His explanation of Catholic Christianity's use of allegory is excellent).

However, there is quite a bit in the book about the spiritual helps and spiritual dangers of Tolkienmania, with an emphasis on a strict biblical world view.

If one is allergic to bible quoting, skip the book. If one wishes to see an analysis of Tolkien's tales from several religious/ethical worldviews, it is an excellent study. And, if one is a strict evangelical, it is a welcome addition to your library.

Rating:
Summary: Mastered the art of obtuse writing
Review: I really do not know what to think of this book. As a diehard Tolkein fan I was eager to read it and as a Christian pastor I was looking forward to the biblical insights the author proposed to give; but after reading this book, I was, in a word, disappointed.

It obvious the author beliefs do not fall within the realm of evangelical theology. Wright states that he comes from a Restoration background which I can only assume is a Disciples of Christ heritage. That in itself goes a long ways in explaining his theology.

It is said that the essence of brilliance is to explain a complicated subject clearly. Although I profoundly disagreed with the late Carl Sagan, I had to admire his ability to complicate the complex nature of the universe in terms we all could understand. Wright has mastered the art of explaining complicated things obtusely. It was a very difficult book to understand.

Wright basis his analysis of Tolkien on what he calls consecrational analysis. Do not ask me what it is, because after reading it over and over again, I still cannot explain it to you. But I do know what it does: it opens the door for almost every weirdo and wacko idea to be considered biblical or supportive of biblical theology. As I read this drivel, I had found myself running to the sink to upchuck what I had just read.

That is not all we have to deal with. Page after page deals with minute details only the most radical Tolkien fan would find interesting. Does the author have too much time on his hands? But in the end, I am glad that I persevered to the end. Midway though the book he has one of the most insightful and clearly defined analysis of the difference between Providence and Fate I have ever read. If only the rest of the book was written this clearly.

Rating:
Summary: A Genuinely New Perspective
Review: If you want a quick, easy read that skims over Tolkien's works and then pops them into a convenient, lightweight package, do NOT read this book. On the other hand, if you are looking for a thoughtful examination of various aspects of Tolkien's body of work and an insightful exploration of how Tolkien's corpus could create the impact that it has had on our culture, then this is a book you MUST read.

One of the joys of this book is the author's commitment to maintaining a dialogue with his readers. Although an outgoing Christian himself, he never "preaches at" his reader. Rather, his approach is that of the website where his series on LOTR and Peter Jackson's films have been posted on for the last five years: "One of the practices at Hollywood Jesus is never to throw rocks at any artist or their work. Rather, we approach each work on its own terms, find common ground and open the doors of dialogue."

Here is an author who has written not to convince you that he is right, but to present some new ideas in order to stimulate your own thinking about Tolkien's thoughts and intentions. This is an author who is genuinely interested in feedback and discussion, who can sincerely and dispassionately dialogue with his readers, who wants more to provoke thought and discovery than just to prove a point.

If you want to know more about the text of the book, read the review posted below by "la solinas," but rest assured, no matter what you think of this book, you can take the opportunity to discuss it all further with the author himself. Don't miss it!