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Average Rating:  out of 222 Reviews
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Price: $12.95
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Sale: $5.94
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Manufacturer: HarperOne
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EAN (European Article Number): 9780060652951
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Number of Items: 1
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Binding: Paperback
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Author: C. S. Lewis
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Publisher: HarperOne
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Dewey Decimal Number: 236.2
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Publication Date: 2001-02
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Reading Level: 160
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Description: The Great Divorce is C.S. Lewis's Divine Comedy: the narrator bears strong resemblance to Lewis (by way of Dante); his Virgil is the fantasy writer George MacDonald; and upon boarding a bus in a nondescript neighborhood, the narrator is taken to Heaven and Hell. The book's primary message is presented with almost oblique tidiness--"There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.'" However, the narrator's descriptions of sin and temptation will hit quite close to home for many readers. Lewis has a genius for describing the intricacies of vanity and self-deception, and this book is tremendously persistent in forcing its reader to consider the ultimate consequences of everyday pettiness. --Michael Joseph Gross
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Customer Reviews
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Review Summary: Great illustrations of heaven v. hell with an excellent reader (CD version) |
Date: 2009-01-04 |
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Details: CS Lewis' Great Divorce addresses questions that many Christians and non-Christians have regarding heaven and hell. Of course, Lewis does not address or claim to address all the questions or attempt a comprehensive thesis on heaven and hell.
What he does discuss adroitly are the choices that people make and the grace that God gives to all people to accept his gift of salvation or to reject it.
By using various characters faced with the decision of heaven or hell with different perspectives, Lewis shows the flawed logic, spirituality, views of God and selves, etc that cause people to reject God and all of his goodness. He also shows how a person can relinquish pride and self-righteousness to enter heaven by accepting God's gift.
This is a stimulating story that also serves as apologetic and defense of Christian principles without being overtly religious or theological.
The reader for the cd version dramatizes the characters and enhances the writing.
Craig Stephans, author of Shakespeare On Spirituality: Life-Changing Wisdom from Shakespeare's Plays |
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Review Summary: We are in control of our own happiness |
Date: 2008-12-27 |
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Details: I have been working my may through several of Lewis' books over the past year, and this is one that I really enjoyed. The more I read of Lewis, the more I appreciate his wisdom and his views on religion and mankind's purpose in life.
This book reminds me of "The Screwtape Letters" in some ways since he uses a fanciful story to teach some profound truths about human nature. Instead of a series of letter from a devil to his apprentice, he has a man visiting heaven and hell and overhearing several conversations of ghosts and spirits. Each of these illustrates effectively things that keep us from making it to heaven, or becoming happy. In all cases, the biggest obstacle to a person's happiness is the failure to love unconditionally. Many of the characters are so wrapped up in themselves that they have no idea the others are trying to help them.
Books like this are very good for me to read since I often times get thinking too much about myself and this illustrates weaknesses in others that I have myself. I seem to do better having my weaknesses pointed out by reading an example in a book than by having someone point it out to me directly.
Lewis does a great job highlighting the fundamental principles of Christianity; to love God and others unconditionally; and that due to the atonement of Christ, we can be forgiven and must forgive others. Some of the examples show victims trying to help those that hurt them in life. Happiness is within everyone's grasp if they can forgive and love unconditionally.
Great book; I highly recommend it. |
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Review Summary: Great read |
Date: 2008-12-16 |
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Details: This book was quick, easy, and full of amazing things. We read it in 2 weeks for a book club (which you could really do in one week) and it was interesting to see everyone else's response to it. FANTASTIC writing and allegory. |
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Review Summary: My Favorite Lewis Book! |
Date: 2008-09-25 |
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Details: I found this book not only interesting but funny. Lewis knows how to convey serious reflections on human behavior in a humorous way which doesn't reduce their solemn significance. He weaves out of fiction an ultra-insightful analysis of the silly reasons why we are often hell-bent on NOT going to heaven. Recognizing those reasons and concentrating on overcoming some of them changed my life for the better. Über-recommended!! |
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Review Summary: redeeming qualities |
Date: 2008-09-21 |
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Details: On an artistic level I would personally rate this work by C.S. Lewis very poor. Characters are two-dimensional. Plot is developed from the perspective that Christianity is the only truth, Heaven and Hell exist for a certainty, and that there is justification for eternal damnation for those who won't see the light. Due to the heavy moralizing, this is more like a religious pamphlet than a work of fiction. Then, why four stars? Despite what I perceive to be flaws in this book,there are some extremely penetrating representations of rationalizing, manipulative behavior. These little vignettes of lost souls willfully denying joy to themselves and trying to deprive others of it also, leaves a haunting impression that Lewis has truthfully revealed the modus operandi of much of mankind. We are allowed to eavesdrop on some conversations between the saved and the damned in which it is obvious the lost souls actually prefer remaining in the Hell they have created for themselves rather than give up their obsessive behavior. Whether or not we agree this is grounds for eternal damnation, I think there is a good lesson here, illustrated quite effectively, to work toward honest relationships free of game-playing. On further reflection, I think this title more worthy of three stars due to the dreary blend of moralizing and fiction. |
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