I don't want to give too much away, so I'll keep this review short. In the dream, the dreamer is a hell-dweller on a train to heaven. The dreamer then gets off the train and observes the strange land and its inhabitants. He meets up with his own personal Virgil: Scottish fantasy writer George MacDonald. MacDonald becomes the dreamer's mentor, teacher, and guide throughout the vastness of heaven.
Lewis makes a few very stunning assertions in this book. Again, I don't want to give away too much - this is a short book that paints several beautiful pictures, and I don't want to spoil that beauty. In this allegory, God's love is so amazingly strong that it can even penetrate the depths of hell. His portrait of heaven is both breath-taking and refreshingly realized. His depiction of human sinfulness and our response to God challenged my own perceptions, as Lewis did in another excellent book The Screwtape Letters.
In short, heaven and hell are not co-dependant (as in a marriage); rather hell is a painful breaking off from God's love (hence the title).
Few writers can write with the mastery of Lewis. Even fewer Christian writers can match his skills. In less than 150 generously spaced and sized pages Lewis composed a revolutionary depiction of heaven, hell, and the relationship between God and humanity. This influential book still inspires people today. I have yet to read Rob Bell's controversial Love Wins, but he from reviews I've read he owes much to The Great Divorce. God's love reigns supreme. I should note, though, that Lewis is not a Universalist (he makes that distinction towards the end of the book).
I loved The Great Divorce. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. Even if you are not Christian, you can appreciate the glorious picture Lewis paints. If you are Christian, prepare to be challenged in your perspective on heaven and hell.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
53/100 books...and still on track (by 12 books)
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