J.R.R. Tolkien: The Making of a Legend - Colin Duriez

Do you pride yourself on knowing all you can about The Lord of the Rings? This book can teach you quite a bit about the one who knows more than any fan: Tolkien himself. From his early life to post-publication habits, a lot of material makes it into this small book. It is very concise, but still very enthralling to read. Duriez has a way with biographical words. Having written seven titles about members of the Inklings (five of which concerned Tolkien), and one on C.S. Lewis being released later this year, Duriez certainly proves a perfected knowledge of Tolkien's life and work, alongside those of the other Inkling members.

One of the best uses I've found for this book (beside learning of Tolkien's personal life) is the appreciation that comes with reading the amount of work he put into this world and the languages it holds. All the other work he performed in education (which was substantial), this was his primary focus, and this impresses me very much. I very much wish to read each of his works again after digesting this book. I suspect other readers will feel the same, and I urge them to find this book someday, whether it is before or after reading Tolkien.

*This book was provided free by Kregel Blog Tours. I was not required to write a positive review, and the opinions expressed are my own.*

John Calvin: A Heart for Devotion, Doctrine & Doxology – Burk Parsons

"To my knowledge there never has been a collection of authors of any edited volume under whose ministry I would rather sit than these. What stands out is that they are humble, holy men of God. Most of them are too old too seasoned to care about scoring points. Their lives witness to the preciousness of Christ and the importance of purity. Expect no bombast. Expect humble, measured admiration and wise application. This is a good way to meet John Calvin: in the holy hearts of humble servants of Christ. The only better way would be to read the man himself."

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The Paladin Prophesy - Mark Frost

Will West is careful to live life under the radar. At his parents' insistence, he's made sure to get mediocre grades and to stay in the middle of the pack on his cross-country team. Then Will slips up, accidentally scoring off the charts on a nationwide exam. Now he has been invited to join an exclusive prep school, whilst also being followed by men driving black sedans. When Will suddenly loses his parents, he must flee to the school. There he begins to explore all that he's capable of - physical and mental feats that should not be impossible - and learns that his abilities are connected to a struggle between titanic forces that go way back before he was even born.

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Life of Pi – Yann Martel

Life of Pi, recently made into a major motion picture, is a philosophical novel that expertly captures your attention and captivates you throughout every page. A survival novel at the very core, Life of Pi is layered with philosophical questions and thought-provoking statements. It’s an excellent read that’s well worth your time.

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Humble Orthodoxy - Joshua Harris

Orthodoxy gets a bad rap these days. It is, for many, a concept inextricably linked to images of strutting Pharisees and the (admittedly unpleasant) smell of burnt heretic. “Go away,” they say, though perhaps not in so many words. “Take your lifeless and restricted bigotry elsewhere.”

Others recognize the importance of orthodoxy, but fail to grasp its beauty or use it in a loving and Scriptural manner. For these people, right theology is a donkey’s jawbone perfectly suited to slaying uncircumcised Philistines – or their neighbor, whoever “asks for it” first.

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Spurgeon V. Hyper-Calvinism – Iain Murray

 Now, you can probably tell from the title what this book is about. It is about the controversy between the famous Prince of Preachers, Charles Spurgeon, and those who take the position commonly called “hyper-Calvinism”. The subtitle of the book really tells you more about it though, and that reads: “The Battle for Gospel Preaching.”
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Easy Chairs, Hard Words - Douglas Wilson

“Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?” (Rom. 9:18-20)

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Deep Like Me - Rick Bundschuh

Following Jesus is more complex and challenging than anybody expects when they start out on the journey. It's not just attending church, reading your Bible and minding your Ps and Qs; it is an adventure filled with wonder and difficulty, with unlearning and relearning. Rick Bundschuh shares in this book what he has discovered about shuffling after Jesus, and invites readers to wrestle, grieve, re-evaluate, redirect, focus, contemplate, be still and get real about living the life of a disciple. Rick's "extremely profound thoughts" written in the form of story-like musings, are a contemplative look at the Christian way of life that warmly invites the reader to stride, stumble, shuffle or crawl in the footsteps of Jesus.
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