Currently Reading

I am currently working my way through the following books. As I am somewhat vision impaired, I do all of my “reading” via audiobooks.

The complete “box set” of T. H. White’s epic fantasy novel of the Arthurian legend. The novel is made up of five parts: “The Sword in the Stone”, “The Witch in the Wood”, “The Ill-Made Knight”, “The Candle in the Wind”, and “The Book of Merlyn”.

Merlyn instructs the Wart (Arthur) and his brother, Sir Kay, in the ways of the world. One of them will need it: the king has died, leaving no heir, and a rightful one must be found by pulling a sword from an anvil resting on a stone. In the second and third parts of the novel, Arthur has become king and the kingdom is threatened from the north. In the final two books, the ageing king faces his greatest challenge, when his own son threatens to overthrow him. In “The Book of Merlyn”, Arthur’s tutor Merlyn reappears and teaches him that, even in the face of apparent ruin, there is hope.

I am currently in a state of deep admiration for this book (which is a compilation of the author’s smaller Arthur books.) White’s story about the great King’s life is a tale about the human heart and civilization more broadly. It’s funny, whimsical, grotesque, tragic, and uplifting. The story is not given in a raw, near, and emotion-led way, but at arms length, in an instructive way. I love it.

Current Progress: 65%

The modern apologetics classic that started it all is now completely revised and updated – because the truth of the Bible doesn’t change, but its critics do. With the original Evidence That Demands a Verdict, best-selling author Josh McDowell gave Christian audiences the answers they needed to defend their faith against the harshest critics and skeptics.

Since that time, Evidence has remained a trusted resource for believers young and old. Bringing historical documentation and the best modern scholarship to bear on the trustworthiness of the Bible and its teachings, this extensive volume has encouraged and strengthened millions.

Now, with his son Sean McDowell, Josh McDowell has updated and expanded this classic resource for a new generation. This is a book that invites listeners to bring their doubts and doesn’t shy away from the tough questions.

1 Peter 3: 15 but ^gin your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect

make a defense = ἀπολογία apología, ap-ol-og-ee’-ah; from the same as G626; a plea (“apology”):—answer (for self), clearing of self, defence.

I got more interested in apologetics a few years ago when I started reading about the “pagan” origins of Easter, only before coming to realize that most of those alleged origins are not supportable. I have posted about it a couple of times, including HERE. The experience made me wonder what else I did or did not know.

I prefer to be informed, regarding most things, and Peter states that Christians should be prepared to make a defense (i.e. participate in apologetics.) So here we are. Evidence is a fascinating but dense read, filled with a lot of compelling information regarding archaeology, evidence supporting the validity of current Bible translations, arguments for internal textual consistency, text interpretation, philosophy, etc. The goal of the book is to provide comprehensive answers to questions and criticisms, regardless of what those things might be. My guess is that for most people, after the first read-through at least, this would be excellent reference material on your library shelf.

If you’re someone with a strong opinion regarding Christianity – either for or against – this is a very useful and informative book.

Current progress: 50%

My Wheel of Time re-read efforts charge forward. I have been working through recap and reaction posts for each chapter, of each book, in this very lengthy series. You can find my previous Wheel of Time posts HERE:

The Fires of Heaven is a fantasy novel by American writer Robert Jordan, the fifth book in his series The Wheel of Time. It was published by Tor Books and released on October 15, 1993.

I currently have published posts covering the first nine chapters, but have scheduled future posts all the way out through Chapter 13. There are fifty-six chapters in total. I probably won’t finish this one until early next year.

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I am not certain what I will read next, when I get some of these projects off my plate. Given the size of my recent book projects, I’ll probably pick something small and relatively manageable – War and Peace or something like that.

My completed book reviews are HERE: