The part that has stayed with me the most from my recent reading is when Orual speaks with Bardia's wife after his death. It challenges Orual's view of herself to the core; and yet the actual connection between the two women is fleeting. They unite and then immediately become hostile again. I'm still mulling this over.
This is one of my favorite books on the planet and yet probably the last time I read it was 2013. I was *just* thinking that I need to reread it. Your review is confirmation.
This is one of those books a friend said she loved, let me borrow, and I just couldn’t get it, though I did finish it. I don’t think I was ready I was a freshman in college and, if I’m honest, when I think bout reading Till We Have Faces I kind of cringe remembering having to endure reading it!
In 12th grade I was forced to read Jane Eyre for summer reading and hated it. It was so long, why did I have to endure pages and pages about the moors?! Reread, it last year with a friend (20 yrs later) because it was her favorite book and she refused to let me think that way about her favorite book and it’s now one of my favorites.
I think books and timing matters. This post makes me want to pick it up and give it another try.
I think one of the things that most struck me in this last reading is how closely Oural’s final conclusion mirrors Job. She is in a way, convicted by her own lament, but the fact that she’s allowed to make it, is as she says, it’s own answer. It speaks so clearly to the power of our attempts at honesty being a way of revealing how many things we hide from ourselves. And yet, the honesty is valuable even as we realize how little we know. The “till we have faces” has always made me think of the passage in 1 Corinthians — our dim understanding being limited until, like Ourual we find we have faces that Someone can bear to look on.
The myth of Psyche is one of only two Greek myths that I actually sympathize with the characters - the other is Pandora's box, which seems like a half-remembered legend of The Fall. I think of Psyche as the archetype of both Cinderella and 'impossible task' fairytales, as well as being perhaps the most symbolic Greek myth, as it is a story of Love and the Soul.
When I first ready 'Till We have Faces', I wasn't sure I liked it, but it stayed with me. I have returned several times to it and each time liked it better. Lewis builds the ancient pagan world very convincingly - it reminds me of Rosemary Sutcliff's work in this respect, as she is generally unparalleled in her ability to recreate ancient historic periods. But further than that, and here Joy probably had some helpful input, Orual, in her agony of love and loss, is very convincing as a real woman. I am not of those who think men can never write good female characters, but Lewis, like Dickens before him, was a bit weak in this respect. He was a good observer, so could sketch a convincing woman as a secondary character, but when they became a main character, as in Perelandra or That Hideous Strength, the result was always slightly off. In 'Till We have Faces', that didn't happen.
I have felt a unique strangeness about this story. It floats somewhere outside time and space and history. Rather than looking at the world's reality and seeing a deeper meaning both revealed and hidden in it (like God's answer to Job does), it ignores all sensory evidence and convinces us of a reality that has no representation for us to examine.
Excellent essay Joel. TWHF is my fav Lewis book hands down. In it he performs the exceedingly rare achievement of discussing deep spiritual matters as powerfully as any of his essays, yet is also entertaining and compelling as a story. Simply the best :) I loved your treatment of it. We are all orual :)
This is one of my favorite books; it's one that I've gifted people, but it's been so long since I've read it that I've forgotten most of it. I've really wanted to reread it since 2020; just need to do that one of these days!
“Though I can’t write one-tenth as well as Jack [Lewis], I can tell him how to write more like himself!” What a beautiful description of the gift of perspective and “spurring on to love and good deeds” that spouses can provide for each other.
Oh it's years since I've last read this one (I have no idea how many times I've read it, but probably at least 5)! This post has reminded me of so much I love about this book, and now I'm excited to reread it again. Thanks!
I have read through the text🇬🇧 twice✔️. Perhaps, I will eventually follow your path with a third+ reading? Three pass books are a very short list for me: Story of a Soul, Interior Castle & One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. (not counting ☦️ 🕊️ Scripture, 📚 🇷🇸 Synaxarians, 🥀🦊🌾✨🔔 Little Prince, 🎶🕯️📿 Menaions,etc)🇨🇵🇪🇦🇷🇺🇬🇷🇱🇧
Then again, there are an awful lot of volumes written over the past two millenia by men and women with an "ST" in front of their name that deserve double/ triple passes too! 🤔 PRAY FOR TRANSLATORS, Grace and peace to you! Σοφία Χάρης Αγάπη Δόξα 🔥🌾🍇⛪🌐
How surprising that I stumbled upon this post this morning. I am one third into Till We Have Faces. Having read several versions of the Psyche and Cupid myth, I agree that something is lacking. Waiting to see Lewis's take on it. Thanks!
One of my all time favorites, also! Everytime I read this book, it makes me consider ways of loving rightly or wrongly. After all, love is love! But to consider not love as we like it, but rather its results, is another thing altogether. Lewis himself visits this idea, but TWHF always make the more powerful statement.
The part that has stayed with me the most from my recent reading is when Orual speaks with Bardia's wife after his death. It challenges Orual's view of herself to the core; and yet the actual connection between the two women is fleeting. They unite and then immediately become hostile again. I'm still mulling this over.
This is one of my favorite books on the planet and yet probably the last time I read it was 2013. I was *just* thinking that I need to reread it. Your review is confirmation.
This is one of those books a friend said she loved, let me borrow, and I just couldn’t get it, though I did finish it. I don’t think I was ready I was a freshman in college and, if I’m honest, when I think bout reading Till We Have Faces I kind of cringe remembering having to endure reading it!
In 12th grade I was forced to read Jane Eyre for summer reading and hated it. It was so long, why did I have to endure pages and pages about the moors?! Reread, it last year with a friend (20 yrs later) because it was her favorite book and she refused to let me think that way about her favorite book and it’s now one of my favorites.
I think books and timing matters. This post makes me want to pick it up and give it another try.
I think one of the things that most struck me in this last reading is how closely Oural’s final conclusion mirrors Job. She is in a way, convicted by her own lament, but the fact that she’s allowed to make it, is as she says, it’s own answer. It speaks so clearly to the power of our attempts at honesty being a way of revealing how many things we hide from ourselves. And yet, the honesty is valuable even as we realize how little we know. The “till we have faces” has always made me think of the passage in 1 Corinthians — our dim understanding being limited until, like Ourual we find we have faces that Someone can bear to look on.
The myth of Psyche is one of only two Greek myths that I actually sympathize with the characters - the other is Pandora's box, which seems like a half-remembered legend of The Fall. I think of Psyche as the archetype of both Cinderella and 'impossible task' fairytales, as well as being perhaps the most symbolic Greek myth, as it is a story of Love and the Soul.
When I first ready 'Till We have Faces', I wasn't sure I liked it, but it stayed with me. I have returned several times to it and each time liked it better. Lewis builds the ancient pagan world very convincingly - it reminds me of Rosemary Sutcliff's work in this respect, as she is generally unparalleled in her ability to recreate ancient historic periods. But further than that, and here Joy probably had some helpful input, Orual, in her agony of love and loss, is very convincing as a real woman. I am not of those who think men can never write good female characters, but Lewis, like Dickens before him, was a bit weak in this respect. He was a good observer, so could sketch a convincing woman as a secondary character, but when they became a main character, as in Perelandra or That Hideous Strength, the result was always slightly off. In 'Till We have Faces', that didn't happen.
I have felt a unique strangeness about this story. It floats somewhere outside time and space and history. Rather than looking at the world's reality and seeing a deeper meaning both revealed and hidden in it (like God's answer to Job does), it ignores all sensory evidence and convinces us of a reality that has no representation for us to examine.
Excellent essay Joel. TWHF is my fav Lewis book hands down. In it he performs the exceedingly rare achievement of discussing deep spiritual matters as powerfully as any of his essays, yet is also entertaining and compelling as a story. Simply the best :) I loved your treatment of it. We are all orual :)
I find the relationship between Lewis and Joy to be fascinating. Intriguing really. Talk about iron sharpening iron.
This is one of my favorite books; it's one that I've gifted people, but it's been so long since I've read it that I've forgotten most of it. I've really wanted to reread it since 2020; just need to do that one of these days!
Lewis continues to offer me more insights and nuances. "Till We Have Faces" remains one of my favorites.
“Though I can’t write one-tenth as well as Jack [Lewis], I can tell him how to write more like himself!” What a beautiful description of the gift of perspective and “spurring on to love and good deeds” that spouses can provide for each other.
Oh it's years since I've last read this one (I have no idea how many times I've read it, but probably at least 5)! This post has reminded me of so much I love about this book, and now I'm excited to reread it again. Thanks!
I have read through the text🇬🇧 twice✔️. Perhaps, I will eventually follow your path with a third+ reading? Three pass books are a very short list for me: Story of a Soul, Interior Castle & One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. (not counting ☦️ 🕊️ Scripture, 📚 🇷🇸 Synaxarians, 🥀🦊🌾✨🔔 Little Prince, 🎶🕯️📿 Menaions,etc)🇨🇵🇪🇦🇷🇺🇬🇷🇱🇧
Then again, there are an awful lot of volumes written over the past two millenia by men and women with an "ST" in front of their name that deserve double/ triple passes too! 🤔 PRAY FOR TRANSLATORS, Grace and peace to you! Σοφία Χάρης Αγάπη Δόξα 🔥🌾🍇⛪🌐
How surprising that I stumbled upon this post this morning. I am one third into Till We Have Faces. Having read several versions of the Psyche and Cupid myth, I agree that something is lacking. Waiting to see Lewis's take on it. Thanks!
Love love love that book
One of my all time favorites, also! Everytime I read this book, it makes me consider ways of loving rightly or wrongly. After all, love is love! But to consider not love as we like it, but rather its results, is another thing altogether. Lewis himself visits this idea, but TWHF always make the more powerful statement.