A review by bubbajones1221
Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton
3.0
I could probably take the time to write a more academic review, but I don't think this book would be worth it. Reading this is a strange and whirling ride, with spikes of brilliance sprinkled with moments where I audibly said "what??". Chesterton himself calls it a “chaotic book” in the last section. He is a master of metaphor and of turning an idea over and inside out, giving you an entirely new way to think about something.
I will say there were a lot of weird burns against the Irish, digs against 16/17th century poets, and other authors... this guy wasn't afraid of public beef. He also flexed his British-ness a lot (like we get that you have a nice house). I looked more into his life after reading this and it explains a lot...
“Love is not blind; that is the last thing that it is. Love is bound; and the more it is bound the less it is blind.”
“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”
I will say there were a lot of weird burns against the Irish, digs against 16/17th century poets, and other authors... this guy wasn't afraid of public beef. He also flexed his British-ness a lot (like we get that you have a nice house). I looked more into his life after reading this and it explains a lot...
“Love is not blind; that is the last thing that it is. Love is bound; and the more it is bound the less it is blind.”
“Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”