There are some books that keep you turning their pages long past your bedtime and then make you ponder their plots as you dream throughout the day. I recently discovered that Till We Have Faces, by C.S. Lewis is one of those books for me. I actually bought my copy of the novel a while ago, but as it is a retelling of the myth of Psyche and Cupid, I thought it would be appropriate to wait to read it in the month of February.

In my youth, I was fairly obsessed with Greek mythology. A school project in 4^th grade unlocked an interest in antics of the gods and goddesses, but it has admittedly been decades since I’ve really put any thought into their lore beyond reading the captions of antiquated marble statues at art museums. In 4^th grade, I was also first exposed to the works of C.S. Lewis through the required reading of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. I was totally captivated by the allegorical storytelling and relatable characters then and have been similarly impacted in years since with titles like The Great Divorce and The Screwtape Letters. So, I was doubly excited to pick up this novel, which I had previously never heard of.

In an effort to not ruin any narrative surprises, I chose not to refresh myself on the synopsis of the myth; which was the right choice, and thus, I will not ruin it for you either except to say that this retelling is unique in that it is told from the perspective on Psyche’s oldest sister, Orual (known to the Greeks as Aglaura).

Lewis—arguably one of the greatest writers of the 20^th century (maybe of all time)—inextricably pulls the reader into a fantastical story of true love won and lost. This novel is hardly romantic, but it does intensely explore what it means to love and be loved, with a strong cautionary undertone reminding the reader that the ways we demonstrate love to others isn’t always interpreted as such. Beyond that, Lewis is clear that we should be careful not to manipulate others by unjustly withholding our love—relationships managed in such a way are doomed for an eternity of heartbreak and heartache for all parties. From what I interpreted, Lewis would say our love should be given freely, regardless of whether others return the sentiments or not. It’s a very unfortunate side effect of being a fallen human that our feelings are not always met in equal measures.

I have a feeling I will return to Till We Have Faces regularly in the years to come. The writing was rich and the storytelling kept me on my toes from start to finish. I have always appreciated how Lewis was able to write engaging literature that not only entertained but held real, weighty lessons to be learned. I truly hope you LOVE this tale as much as I did!

This book may be for you if you also like: Greek (or Roman) mythology; other titles by C.S. Lewis; fantasy; novels; complex love stories; stories in which the underdog succeeds; travel/adventure; sister relationships; kings and queens; fiction; sword fighting; horseback riding; camping under the stars; mountains; mentor-mentee relationships; unconventional families.

SDG

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