Till We Have Faces: A Myth Retold by C.S. Lewis

This was quite an uplifting although rather strange book. I am currently reading Lewis's autobiography "Surprised By Joy" which I will comment on when I finish, but it has helped me understand Lewis' lifelong fascination with mythology of all types, and maybe why he says the story leapt out at him. It is the retelling of the story of Psyche and Cupid from the point of view of Psyche's much older, almost like a mother, half sister, Orual. Orual is an ugly girl, but very smart and really quite a good person. Her mother the queen died when she and Redival, her full sister, were children. Their father, the king, soon remarried, and this second wife died giving birth to the the beautiful Ilistra, also known as Psyche.

The king had assigned a Greek slave to teach his daughters. Orual was loved the Fox as he was called and loved the learning. Redival was not nearly as interested, and as time went on, Psyche also enjoyed the time spent with the Fox and Orual. The three of them formed a very strong bond. So it was especially devastating to Orual when the gods demanded a sacrifice of Psyche. She was devastated to have this beautiful sister taken away so cruelly. Once the sacrifice was performed, really Psyche was left chained at the top of the mountain, not actually killed, Orual went to bury her bones that she may rest and found instead that Psyche was alive and well and married to the God of the mountain. Instead of being relieved and happy for her sister, Orual was angry that she had been taken from her. She convinces Psyche to break a promise she made to her husband which results in great sorrow for her. Orual is haunted by what has happened to Psyche because of her, but will not admit to herself that she was in fact to blame.

Orual and Psyche no longer see each other, and Orual eventually becomes a good and just queen. Finally at the end of her life, she realizes her true face and all she has suffered because of her sin and ill-intent despite all the justifying she did in her mind over the years. The sisters are at last reconciled, although it is not completely clear, but it does lead one to that direction.

This brief synopsis hardly does the book justice. I could hardly put it down, and it brought me up to a much nicer state of mind than I was in when I started the book. There is so much to be observed and learned about human behaviour and how we try to convince ourselves that we are doing the right thing when deep down we know it's wrong. Orual really was not evil. She did a ton of good for her people, but all that good couldn't make up for the nagging she suffered about the bad turn she had given her sister. It was very nice in the end when Orual admitted her fault to her own heart and could see who she really was, and then the reconciliation was able to take place. Until we admit our wrongs, we cannot progress. We have to see ourselves for who we really are, then if there is something we don't like, then we can change it, and really be true to ourselves. I highly recommend this book. It is an easy read, easy to understand and there is so much to learn from it- lots of good quotes and words of wisdom also. Enjoy!!!