Three books

THE SPIES OF WARSAW

I had heard great things about Alan Furst, and I can see why many consider him one of the finest writers of spy novels. His tale unfolds elegantly, and his character Jean-François Mercier de Boutillon is enjoyable. He is as charming in his heroic spy exploits as he is in his powerful yearning for jelly doughnuts.

I appreciated the book enough to lose some sleep reading it, but it was never very suspenseful or mysterious. I would be interested in reading some of Furst’s other novels in order to see if this is an anomaly or just his style.

WHO’S AFRAID OF POSTMODERNISM?

This book by James Smith was a very approachable treatment of the church’s response to postmodernism. I cannot speak for the soundness of the author’s philosophy (I thought he treated some of the philosophers’ writings in an inexcusably general manner, although his embracement of these philosophers was refreshing in comparison to the usual fear you sense among evangelicals) but his critique of the American church over the last few decades was right on target, and his vision for the future was exciting and encouraging (until he starts describing the particulars of his ideal worship service). Incidentally, I was annoyed by how 50% of the footnotes referred to another of the author’s books. I’m not sure that was necessary, and it makes me mistrust him.

THE TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD

I challenge anyone to read this all-too-brief collection of stories in more than one sitting. It takes a certain genius to write a successful fairy tale; after her previous voluminous tomes, J. K. Rowling indisputably proves her mettle by mastering this short form. And the commentary by Albert Dumbledore, along with scholarly footnotes, is exquisite.