The Parish of the Nativity of the Lord
Book+ Circle 11 August 2015
Surprised by Joy CS Lewis
Summary
CS Lewis wrote this book over a seven year period – from 1948 to 1955, and is his personal
account of how he converted to Christianity. The book is written when CS Lewis is an adult
recalling his childhood during 1898 – 1931. He did not intend the book to be like an
autobiography but specifically explores what led to his faith. The title is taken from a poem
by Wordsworth which begins:
Surprised by Joy – Impatient as the Wind
I turned to share the transport –
Oh! With whom but Thee, deep buried in the silent tomb
How did we feel reading this book?







This was the second CS Lewis book we had read in the Book+ Circle and everyone
agreed it was very well written and a relatively easy book to read.
Having read the Screwtape letters we felt we could get into the book quicker, and
understood some of the references eg to ‘the enemy’
It felt a little like reading a diary and we thought Lewis had probably decided to write
this book as much for himself as for the reader
The reader is brought along with CS Lewis, through his school days, which were
quite traumatic, into his 1-1 private tutoring in Dorking, before beginning his adult life
He described people he met on his life’s journey so well, and gave frank accounts of
his own shortcomings
We all felt strong emotions as we read the book, we felt his upbringing was tough
and he was a very solitary person
He was clearly very well read, and had access to a wealth of books during his
childhood, some of us in the Book+ Circle felt a little overwhelmed with all his
references to literary authors and musical composers
Would we read something else by the same author?


CS Lewis is a favourite author for Book+ Circle members and we would all be
interested to read other books by this author
Some of us agreed the last few chapters of the book could be re-read to better
understand what he was saying
What were the book’s strengths?



Lewis takes the reader through a very logical journey to appreciate how his early life
impacted on his faith journey and does an excellent retrospective analysis of how all
the different experiences he had during his life contributed in some way to his
eventual coming around to believe in God and then Jesus, as our Saviour.
Lewis provokes the reader to think about their own journey in faith and in the
Book+Circle we shared our views on our own journey
We agreed with Lewis’s views that we all need to open our eyes and ears to see and
hear and not rush to talk about our own opinions on what we are seeing and hearing.
One member mentioned about the current fashion of photographing everything on
If you would like to find out more, about the Book Circle contact Anne St J Hall (07720 291629)
1
holiday to load it on facebook to show friends, rather than taking time to simply enjoy
the experience and ambience of the moment
What were the book’s weaknesses?

Some confusion with the last few chapters around enjoyment/contemplation,
thought/experience (chapter 14 felt like much harder work) – we agreed with Lewis’s
conclusion that the best way to turn your attention from the person or thing that’s
upsetting you is to concentrate on the emotion itself so this becomes more
controllable and perhaps removable.
Overall


This was a very good read, this book is honest and clear, we all found Lewis’ story
very compelling and inspiring
A real sense of how God does work in mysterious ways And so the Great Angler
played His fish and I never dreamed that the hook was in my tongue’
Next Meeting
September meeting: Tuesday 8 September at 10.30 am in the Retreat Café at the PNL
Centre, Redhill
Finding Sanctuary, by Christoper Jamison
October meeting:
Tuesday 13 October at 10.30 am in the Retreat Café at the PNL
Centre, Redhill
The Real Jesus – The misguided quest for the historical Jesus and
the truth of the traditional Gospels by Luke Timothy Johnson
If you would like to find out more, about the Book Circle contact Anne St J Hall (07720 291629)
2