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The Oxford Chronicles #3
Evasions
From the links of St. Andrews, Scotland, to the blitz of London in World War II, RAF pilot Eric MacKenzie embarks on a dark journey of the soul as he battles the Nazis, personal loss, and bitterness. Evading the bombing raids and her own distressing realizations, American nurse Annie Little finds refuge and renewed faith at the Kilns, home of C.S. Lewis. Eric and Annie reveal their turbulent love story decades later when their daughter Natalie and Lord Stuart Devereux seek wisdom for their own future. Unforeseen tragedy, unplanned pregnancy, and undermined faith lead to hope, commitment, and restoration in this compelling prequel to Inklings and Expectations , that will enthrall romance readers, history buffs, and devotees of Lewis and Tolkien alike.
360 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 3, 2014
This a good book. It is really captivating and well-written, set amid the dreaming spires of Oxford, and the Inklings, Scotland and England during the tumultuous era of WW2, and the Battle of Britain. Having just recently traveled to and seen London and Oxford, I found myself smiling and remembering all the wonderful places I had seen - Kensington in London and Paddington station, Keble College Magdalen College and the Kilns in Oxford were just lovely to read about now that I have been there! Actually, my sisters and I had the privilege of having Mrs. Jeschke (the author) as our guide in the Oxford "inklings" tour we went on while we were there - so that was special, and I can vouch for how accurate this book is for geography and historical accuracy. The characters are well-written and captivating - Eric and Annie and Jeff. Even C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien feature in this story, though the later only briefly.
I appreciated the Christian worldview of the author in this book, and especially the quotations for C. S. Lewis gave the book a truly inspiring flavor. But this novel, Evasions, (which is a prequel to the other books in the Oxford series) deals with the issue of virginity and chastity (and I say hurrah that a book should address this issue these days and state the wrongness of immorality), but because the author goes into such issues it thus is a more adult novel with mature content. I would definitely not recommend it to anyone who is under his/her late teens and up. For while the author wishes to present a picture of the honour and virtue of moral purity and the goodness of marriage, she shows it through the mistakes of characters who stumble in immorality and do not go that way, and the suffering and penance that comes as a result of their sin. In particular, there is one chapter that has a scene that got a little bit icky. It is brief, but I would have much preferred it if the author had avoided that scene altogether. (it was not explicit though, just overly romantic, etc. . .)
While it does not go into too much detail, this element of the story was not my favorite, much as I believe it is an important issue to address. What I am wondering though is when will it happen that a novel depicts courtship, gallantry and maintaining purity in romance in a way that is done right, without all that kissing and mushing about? I think I would definitely appreciate something like that!
But if for nothing else I enjoyed this book for its wonderful settings, the historical era, and all these references to the inklings in Oxford with Jack Staples Lewis, and even Fred Packsford and the Blitzkrieg in London, and the heroism of the RAF pilots fighting up in the skies, the ones Churchill praised so much.
I appreciated the Christian worldview of the author in this book, and especially the quotations for C. S. Lewis gave the book a truly inspiring flavor. But this novel, Evasions, (which is a prequel to the other books in the Oxford series) deals with the issue of virginity and chastity (and I say hurrah that a book should address this issue these days and state the wrongness of immorality), but because the author goes into such issues it thus is a more adult novel with mature content. I would definitely not recommend it to anyone who is under his/her late teens and up. For while the author wishes to present a picture of the honour and virtue of moral purity and the goodness of marriage, she shows it through the mistakes of characters who stumble in immorality and do not go that way, and the suffering and penance that comes as a result of their sin. In particular, there is one chapter that has a scene that got a little bit icky. It is brief, but I would have much preferred it if the author had avoided that scene altogether. (it was not explicit though, just overly romantic, etc. . .)
While it does not go into too much detail, this element of the story was not my favorite, much as I believe it is an important issue to address. What I am wondering though is when will it happen that a novel depicts courtship, gallantry and maintaining purity in romance in a way that is done right, without all that kissing and mushing about? I think I would definitely appreciate something like that!
But if for nothing else I enjoyed this book for its wonderful settings, the historical era, and all these references to the inklings in Oxford with Jack Staples Lewis, and even Fred Packsford and the Blitzkrieg in London, and the heroism of the RAF pilots fighting up in the skies, the ones Churchill praised so much.
June 2, 2017
Jeschke's attention to historical accuracy and careful interweaving of story lines makes for a delightful read. Entertaining, enlightening, and spiritually enriching.
June 2, 2017
The history was more interesting than the previous two, and I enjoyed the imaginative foray into life in the Lewis household. I had a hard time distinguishing Annie in this book from Kate in the previous two, though.
Fun fact learned: If Jeshke's history is right, my son shares a name with C.S. Lewis' handyman! Score!
Fun fact learned: If Jeshke's history is right, my son shares a name with C.S. Lewis' handyman! Score!
May 26, 2009
The third book of the Oxford Chronicals series by Melanie M. Jeschke. When I first picked up this book, excited to read it after reading the other two, I was disappointed that it was more about Davids mom and dad (Eric and Annie MacKenzie), and less about David and Kate, Austin and Yvette, and Natilie and Stuart. However, it wasn't long when I was totally hooked into the story that Eric and Annie tell their children about how they met, fell in loved and eventually got married. It wasn't an easy time for them, in the midst of the brewing war of the 40's.
By the time I got to the end of the book, I could barely read through tears of both sorrow and joy. I highly recommend this series. I am so glad I read it!
By the time I got to the end of the book, I could barely read through tears of both sorrow and joy. I highly recommend this series. I am so glad I read it!
February 6, 2017
Ah, this was a refreshing read. Jeschke's ability to weave spiritual, life-giving Truth into her stories is reminiscent of Robin Jones Gunn and Sarah Sundin. Besides, when C.S. Lewis is a character in the story, which is partially set in Oxford, I cannot help but fall in love with the book...
February 16, 2012
I was hesitant about this because I saw that it was a prequel - but she did a good job of mixing today in with the past and it worked. It was a very good conclusion to her series. i will read them again.
May 26, 2012
Probably my favorite of Jeschke's books (thus far, that includes the Inklings trilogy - Expectations is the 3rd in the trilogy - and Jillian Dare). Expectations, set in Britain during WWII, is a prequel to the first book in the trilogy.
August 1, 2012
Good finale to the Oxford Chronicles, but I wouldn't mind hearing more about these characters and their future stories!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews