Release Date: November 1, 2011
Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: William Morrow
Pages/Format: 336 (Paperback)
Genre: Literary/Religious Fiction
Source: Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
My Rating: D (View Scale)
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He might be young, but Colm already recognizes the truth: that he’s sick and not getting better. His mother, Cathleen, fiercely believes her faith will protect her ailing son, but Colm is not so sure. With a wisdom far beyond his  years, Colm has come to terms with his probable fate, but he does have one special wish. He wants to meet his father who abandoned his beloved mother before Colm was born.

But the quest to find the dying boy’s missing parent soon becomes a powerful journey of emotional discovery–a test of belief and an anxious search for proof of heaven.

One Sentence Review: The premise has a lot of potential, but the execution falls far short of what I was hoping for and expecting.

In-Depth Review

¡WARNING! This review contains major spoilers. They have been clearly marked in bold so that you can avoid them.

I received my copy of Proof of Heaven through the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, so despite the fact that it was published by a general market publisher, I fully expected it to conform to basic Evangelical theology. I was actually quite excited at the prospect of a distinctly Christian novel coming from a general market publisher. Alas, it was not to be. While I can appreciate any book that prompts readers to ponder the subjects of suffering, death and the afterlife, Proof of Heaven left me wanting in more ways than one.

Assisi, Italy

The central character of this tale is Colm (pronounced Column), a seven-year-old boy suffering from random episodes of cardiac arrest with no apparent cause. After years of searching for answers, his mother, Cathleen, discovers Dr. Gaspar Basu, an electrophysiologist-cardiologist who is finally able to diagnose Colm’s condition. Unfortunately, it is progressive and terminal. With the clock ticking down, Cathleen turns to her Catholic faith for a solution, jetting off to Assisi on pilgrimage in search of a miracle with Colm and the agnostic Dr. Basu in tow. Colm confides in Dr. Basu that he does not believe in God, heaven or miracles since he has not once experienced anything but black nothingness in the seven times his heart has stopped beating, but he refrains from telling his mother so as not to discourage her.

Sendhil Ramamurthy

My two favorite characters were Sean, Cathleen’s alcoholic brother, and Dr. Basu (who, incidentally, I immediately pictured as looking like Sendhil Ramamurthy). I think Sean’s backstory and baby steps toward redemption were the best parts of the book. Unfortunately, I had a very hard time connecting with Colm and Cathleen. Her frantic search for a miracle was hard to understand considering the physical toll it took on Colm. I also had a really hard time liking Colm. He came across as a bit of a know-it-all.

The writing was decent, though there were times when it was too sentimental for my taste. As an interesting side note, Hackett based many elements of the story on her own life. Like Colm, she suffers from Malignant Neurocardiogenic Syncope Disorder and she has flatlined nearly a hundred times. Her son, also named Colm, collapsed and stopped breathing when he was an infant, and it was this experience which led her to start writing Proof of Heaven in the first place. Cathleen’s relationship with Dr. Basu is also closely based on Hackett and her husband. I think that perhaps being so closely tied to the story may have been the reason for the overly sentimental tone.

Proof of Heaven asks a lot of excellent theological questions, such as:

• Does God exist?
• Is heaven real?
• What happens to us when we die?
• Do miracles really happen?

::SPOILER SECTION BEGINS HERE::

The ending is where I really got tripped up. Colm’s heart stops and his mother embraces his dying body.

He saw what his mother had spoken of for so long. At the moment of Colm Francis Magee’s final mysterious death, he saw arms reaching for him, enveloping him in an unconditional loving embrace. He felt the warmth of her touch, and he knew it would be all the love he ever needed. And he too smiled as he thought of it: she had been there the whole time.

Heaven was right there in front of him.

-Page 288

Here is my problem with that paragraph: It elevates human love above God love. Whether intentional or not, what the author is saying here is that whether or not a loving God exists doesn’t really matter in the end, as long as we have people who love us as much as Colm’s mother loves him. And that is what bothered me the most about this book.

After this Colm reunites with deceased relatives, including the father he never met. He then has an out-of-body experience where he witnesses his mother and Dr. Basu huddled around him.

Colm let her love him, falling further into her body, loving her as he had never loved her before. She had found heaven before him, and she made it easier for him to find. All he had to do was make the trip. And it was all so beautiful. It was all proof. All the proof he ever needed.

Proof of heaven.

Then, like a sudden spark that arrives from a singular, unknown source, Colm opened his eyes and he saw.

He saw it all so clearly.

-Page 291

This ending was both abrupt and quite strange. I’m assuming what Colm saw “so clearly” was heaven in the traditional sense, which is interesting to me considering the fact that Colm is an atheist. I say interesting because I understand that in the Catholic church, children are not believed to be responsible for their choices until age eight, which Colm falls just short of, meaning that he would go to heaven regardless of what he believed. As an Evangelical, I believe that we can’t arbitrarily set an age of accountability since the Bible does not specify one. So it bothers me that Colm is assumed to have gone to heaven. I would have preferred it if the author had left that part ambiguous (or changed the ending entirely since, as I said before, the whole thing seemed very strange to me).

::SPOILER SECTION ENDS HERE::

There are parts of this book that I enjoyed (Sean’s backstory, Dr. Basu’s relationship with Colm and Cathleen, the deep theological questions it raises). But ultimately those parts were overshadowed by negative aspects like the sentimental writing, Cathleen and Colm’s unrelatable personalities, and the bizarre and theologically bankrupt ending. I would not recommend this book to a friend.

About Mary Curran Hackett:

Born and raised in Danbury, Connecticut, Mary Hackett has traveled extensively and lived in various places throughout the U.S., but her favorite place in the world is home with her kids, husband, and stacks of books. She received an MA in English Literature from the University of Nebraska and is an adjunct English professor at the University of Cincinnati.

Other Reviews: BookNAround | The Lost Entwife

If you reviewed this book, leave a link to the review in a comment and I will add it to the list above. In return, I ask that you link back to my review as well.

I thought it was about time I jumped on the Top 10 Tuesday bandwagon seeing as I’m so crazy about list-making. The prompt for this week is: Top 10 Books I’d Quickly Save if My House was Going to be Abducted by Aliens. 

This is only my first Top 10 Tuesday post and already I’m hyperventilating! The thought of choosing only ten books to save out of the hundreds in my house is anxiety-inducing in the extreme. But it’s actually a really good question. I mean, it’s good to be prepared in case, you know, the unthinkable happens. *cue creepy alien invasion music* (And yes, in case you were wondering, I am going to milk this extraterrestrial theme for all it’s worth.)

So, in no particular order, here are the ten books I would choose:

1. My Trutone Thinline English Standard Version Bible - I pretty much bring this with me anywhere I’m going to be for more than twenty-four hours, so this would be the first thing I’d grab.

2.  Valley of Vision, Edited by Arthur G. Bennett - A timeless collection of Puritan prayers, I’d grab this one right after my Bible (and ray gun).

3. The Human Body Book by Steve Parker - I figure if I’m on the run from an army of elite reptilian super-soldiers, I might want to have this on hand in case I have to perform any impromptu emergency surgeries. Also, it’s one of the most expensive books on my shelf, and I’d hate to lose out on my investment.

4. At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon - One of my favorite novels. To remind me of the good old days when the idea of aliens invading earth was laughed upon . . .

5. The American Patriot’s Almanac by William J. Bennett & John T.E. Cribb - With daily readings about our nation’s history, this book would no doubt help keep patriotic fervor alive while in the trenches of intergalactic warfare.

6. The Complete Sherlock Holmes Treasury by Arthur Conan Doyle - I love a good mystery, and this thick volume would provide hours of entertainment on nights spent huddling in a basement hiding from alien ships.

7. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Private Investigating, 2nd Edition by Steven Kerry Brown - The skills taught in this book could come in handy in a post-apocolyptic world.

8. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - I couldn’t possibly survive without at least one book by my favorite classic author, and I haven’t read this one yet (shocker, I know) so it would give me something new to read.

9. The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel - So I could share the Good News with the aliens . . . or maybe just the people running away from them.

10. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll – My favorite children’s book of all time. I could never leave that behind!

Now it’s your turn. What books would you save if aliens invaded?

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Release Date: September 1, 2010
Illustrator: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: David C. Cook
Pages/Format: 752 (Hardcover)
Source: Publisher
My Rating: A (View Scale)
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The Action Bible contains 215 stories in chronological order presented in the style of a comic book. Illustrated by Sergio Cariello, an accomplished artist who has worked for Marvel and DC Comics, The Action Bible brings Scripture to life in a whole new way, much like Adventures in Odyssey did with radio. It’s by far the best illustrated Bible I’ve ever seen. I love the comic book styling and the illustrations are amazing. The Action Bible is great for kids who are old enough to read on their own, but don’t have the attention span to wade through dense biblical text. As an adult, I have enjoyed using it as a visual companion during Bible reading times. It’s a great addition to any family’s home library!

Release Date: September 20, 2011
Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Zondervan
Pages/Format: 208 (Hardcover)
Genre: Nonfiction, Christian Living
Source: IntoIt Interactive
My Rating: A- (View Scale)
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Car pools and car crashes, job changes and joint custody, moves and motionlessness. Is there a cohesive story line to the chaos, confusion, and clutter of your daily life? According to well-loved author Max Lucado, the answer is a resounding yes! So what is the text of your life?

Join Max for a journey woven with New Testament stories and contemporary examples of God’s beautiful story-making skills. The beginning of the narrative is legendary; the middle unfolds with surprises still in store; and the ending of your final earthly chapter ushers in a reunion that almost defies  description. It’s time to see what your life looks like when God’s story becomes your story.

One Sentence Review: God’s Story, Your Story is a gentle call to Christ for unbelievers and an affirming, uplifting read for those who already believe.

In-Depth Review

I love stories. I love reading them, watching them, listening to them. There’s nothing better than reading a spellbinding novel with a satisfying ending or listening to stories that take you back in time and up your family tree. Every life is a story in progress and those who have surrendered the author’s pen to God are guaranteed a happy ending. But like all good stories, there’s a lot of conflict and struggle between the beginning and end. During these times it’s easy to develop tunnel vision and lose sight of the overarching narrative. And here’s the other thing we need to remember: We are only minor characters in this grand saga. To illustrate, if the story of the universe were The Hunger Games, I would not be Finnick or Prim or Cinna, and I certainly wouldn’t be Katniss, Peeta or Gale. You and I would be more like District 5 citizen number 487 and 488.

If you’re feeling rather small and insignificant right now, I apologize. My point (or rather Max Lucado’s point, which is what I’ve been trying to get at all this time) is that contrary to modern Western thought, our lives are a part of God’s story, not the other way around. In God’s Story, Your Story, Lucado makes the case that when we surrender our stories to God by trusting in Christ as Savior and Lord, when His story becomes your story . . .

. . . Ordinary Matters (Chapter One)

. . . You Know Satan’s Next Move (Chapter Two)

. . . You Find Your True Home (Chapter Three)

. . . You Hear a Voice You Can Trust (Chapter Four)

. . . You Won’t Be Forsaken (Chapter Five)

. . . Your Final Chapter Becomes a Preface (Chapter Six)

. . . Power Moves In (Chapter Seven)

. . . The Right Doors Open (Chapter Eight)

. . . All Things Work for Good (Chapter Nine)

. . . God Will Come for You (Chapter Ten)

. . . You Will Finally Graduate (Conclusion)

-Pages 10-11

With over twenty-five years of publishing experience, Lucado has his writing formula down pat, so some of what I’m about to say is rehashing what I’ve already said in reviews of his last three books (Max on Life, Outlive Your Life, and Fearless). The message of God’s Story, Your Story is aimed at both believers and nonbelievers. For nonbelievers, it’s a call to trust Christ as Savior and for believers, it’s a reminder of the emotional and spiritual benefits of consciously putting Christ at the center of our lives.

Like all of Max’s books, it’s meant to be more inspirational than theological. There are a couple of bad theology moments, like on page 146 where Lucado quotes Nelson Mandela as saying, “All men have a core of decency, and … if their heart is touched, they are capable of changing.” This clearly contradicts the Doctrine of Total Depravity (Jeremiah 17:9). Lucado is also a bit ambiguous about the salvation message in some places.

And dare we mention the names on the foundations? Peter, the apostle who saved his own skin instead of his Savior’s. James and John who jockeyed for VIP seats in heaven. … These are the disciples who … chose to leave Jesus alone to face his crucifixion … Yet all their names appear on the foundations. …

And yours? It’s not engraved in the gate, but written in the Book of the Lamb. Not in pencil marks that can be erased, but with blood that will not be removed. No need to keep God happy; he is satisfied. No need to pay the price; Jesus paid it.

-Page 90

In a book that is clearly aimed at a mixed secular/Christian audience, this passage is unclear about who this applies to. Fortunately, later in the book, Lucado clears up any confusion.  Speaking of the Day of the Lord he says,

On the great Day you’ll hear billions of voices make the identical claim about Jesus Christ. “Every knee will bow to the name of Jesus–everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10-11 NCV).

. . .

There will be one monumental difference. Some people will continue the confession they began on earth. They will crown Christ gladly. Others will crown him for the first time. They will do so sadly. They denied Christ on earth, so he will deny them in heaven.

-Page 158

As always, Max’s writing is what really sets this book apart from hundreds on the same subject. He is a gifted storyteller and his way with words is unparalleled. There is also a “Discussion and Action Guide” in the back which is a great way to go deeper with the themes of the book. This is a wonderful read for when you need something light and faith-building.

About Max Lucado:

Max Lucado is a New York Times bestselling author of over fifty books including Fearless and 3:16. He is the minister of preaching at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. Max and his wife, Denalyn, have three grown daughters–Jenna, Andrea, and Sara; one son-in-law, Brett; and one sweet but lazy golden retriever, Molly.

Other Reviews: These Grace Filled Days | World

If you reviewed this book, leave a link to the review in a comment and I will add it to the list above. In return, I ask that you link back to my review as well.

This month’s featured book blogger is Rel from Relz Reviewz, the best blog out there for info about upcoming Christian fiction releases! Rel is especially well known for her Character Spotlight series (which I read religiously). I asked Rel a few questions about her blog and reading recommendations.

First of all, tell us a little bit about yourself. What are some of your interests outside of blogging?

Born and bred in Australia, I live in the sporting and shopping capital of Oz, Melbourne and am wife to Mr. Tall Dark & Handsome, mum to 3 beautiful daughters and a lawyer. I love photography and the beach. Having recently moved to a new church and taking some time to adjust, I’m yet to become involved but anticipate getting back into women’s ministry and running a book club again as I did in my last church.

I also write for FamilyFiction’s digital magazines, responsible for the Romance and Historical departments and other feature articles. I enjoy it immensely.

How old is your blog and what made you decide to start it?

I started my blog in late 2006 as a place to store the occasional review I was doing for one of our major Christian bookstores. It was purely for my own purposes and I imagined that my family might read it from time to time! I joined the CFBA (Christian Fiction Blog Alliance), made a few author and publishing contacts and things took off from there.

How does your faith impact how you blog and what you blog about?

My faith certainly impacts what I blog about and hopefully the way I blog. I only review Christian Fiction as I have a heart to share quality fiction that is available from authors who write from a background of faith. I love that we now have so many options in Christian Fiction and am passionate that readers understand there is an amazing depth now and not to dismiss all Christian Fiction as sub par prairie romances, which is such a misconception!

No kidding! What specific qualities do you look for in a novel that would prompt you to give it a positive review?

Bottom line is that I connected in some meaningful way to the story–it made me laugh, cry, smile or it challenged, thrilled or inspired me!

What are some of the best books you’ve reviewed within the last year?

• Ronie Kendig’s Discarded Heroes series – Nightshade, Digitalis, Wolfsbane & Firethorn
• Dale Cramer’s Paradise Valley and The Captive Heart
• Laura Frantz’s The Colonel’s Lady
• Lisa Tawn Bergren’s River of Time series – Waterfall, Cascade & Torrent
• Jenny B Jones’s There You’ll Find Me
• T L Higley’s Pompeii

I could go on!

Pompeii was one of my favorites too! What blogs/bloggers inspire you?

Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of time to read other blogs. That is one of the down sides to having a busy blog of my own. That said, two writers’ blogs that I just adore are Jenny B Jones’s and Laura Frantz’s.

I’d also have to say my fellow INSPY Advisory Board members–they have so much passion for the written word–for the way it can make a difference, challenges how we think, encourages and entertains. Here’s to Amy, Deborah, Hannah, Lydia and Michael.

What are your goals for your blog in the future?

Mmmmm…..continue what I am doing, I think. Showcasing great authors, reviewing books, sharing the book love with my readers and giving them opportunities to learn about new fiction and authors that might appeal to them.

If you were a superhero, what would your power be?

Speed, I think. Whipping through housework, shopping and laundry in under 5 minutes certainly appeals.

Name two famous people, living or dead, you would  most like to meet and why.

This question is difficult for me to answer. I really don’t get the appeal of fame in the sense it is often used today although I appreciate there are some amazing people who are famous because of their contribution to society. Even so I’d much rather meet a couple of women who have made a real difference in my life over the past few years but I’m yet to meet in person–Ronie Kendig and Kelli Standish. They may not be famous in the way we usually understand but I’d choose them in a heartbeat over……oh, did someone say Richard Armitage?! Well, then………

If you had to choose three books you think everyone should read, what would they be and why?

• The Bible – can’t do better than the word of God!
• My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok – I read this book in high school and it had a great impact on me and made me think beyond myself.
• Firethorn by Ronie Kendig – because she my friend, I adore her stories, I’d love her books to sell in the millions and you just might recognise a character that has something significantly in common with me

Favorites—

Ack! Too hard to pick an ultimate favourite so I’m picking one of my favs of each thing

Song: Adele’s album 21–can’t choose just one, can I?

It’s literally impossible! I am crazy about her voice!

TV Show: The West Wing

Movie: North & South (BBC miniseries so technically not a movie!)

Comfort Food: Mangoes

Reading Spot: Wherever I am with a book and a spare moment!

Thanks for stopping by, Rel!

Be sure to check out Relz Reviewz and leave a comment! You can also follow Rel on Twitter @Relz.

It’s time for another giveaway! I have a brand new copy of Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber ready to be shipped off to one lucky winner! To learn more about this book, read my review here.

When Carolyn arrived at Oxford for her graduate studies, she felt no need for God. Her childhood in a broken but loving family taught her to rely on reason and intellect–not faith–for survival. Eager and expectant, Carolyn set out to study Romantic literature in one of the most inspiring and beautiful academic environments in the world. She had no idea that she was about to embark on a love story of her own–one much deeper, more colorful, and more surprisingly God-shaped than any she’d read before.

From issues of fatherhood, feminism, and doubt to doctrine and love, Weber explores the intricacies of coming to faith with honesty and insight echoing that of the poets and writers she studied. Rich with illustration and literary and poetic references, Surprised by Oxford is at once gritty and lyrical, humorous and spiritually perceptive.

Documented over the course of her first school year and organized according to the Oxford liturgical academic calendar, Surprised by Oxford tells the real-life tale of a young woman’s search for–and eventual discovery of–purpose, identity, and what it really means to be human.

Carolyn Weber holds M.Phil and D.Phil degrees in Romantic Literature from Oxford University. Recently she published a memoir about her conversion to Christianity while at Oxford.

I had the pleasure of asking Carolyn a few questions about her book and reading habits . . .

Tell us a little bit about how this book came to be. When did you first get the idea to write it? How did everything come together from there?

I never initially intended to write my conversion story. Rather, after years of sharing it with my students in particular, many of them prompted me again and again to think about putting it down. They reminded me how much it sounded like a novel–which indeed all our lives do when we see them as God does!  But I was hesitant at first, because it was an entirely new genre for me as a traditional academic. It also wasn’t, how shall I say, a “widely supported” project in mainstream secular academia. Ha! But as I prayed over it, and looked over my old journals and mementos, I realized how much I had been given, and how much I needed to return it to God’s glory, to the best of my capacity. So I ended up writing most of it during my first formal sabbatical literally in a tiny closet (hiding out from my children) in our small beach rental. It was hard, hard, hard–I had just had twins the year before, and I also had a three year old girl–we had little sleep, and even less money. I faced pressure from nonbelieving colleagues about writing such an “unacademic  let alone Christian” work, and I was worn out from years of teaching without a break. But I think the Holy Spirit works best in us when we are weakest, and in a strange, beautiful way, I felt carried through the writing, along with a lot of caffeine.

How did writing a memoir differ from academic writing you’ve done in the past?

It’s a lot harder. Wow. For one, writing memoir is much more vulnerable. Sure, having someone challenge a theory or question a statement is fodder for fair debate. But having someone give you 1 star on Amazon for a rendition of your LIFE? That’s a little painful, no matter how you cut it.

For two, I found it particularly challenging to think about how to select from what really happened and yet weave it together in a way that would matter to an objective reader. It’s tricky to recreate conversion and yet not have it sound stilted. I have a whole new respect for writers and the craft! I think you must always respect your reader’s time and energy.  I found myself trying to think of the audience I felt I knew best, and thus was most called to–believers and unbelievers. I grew up a non-believer, and now, as someone who has had an adult conversion, I feel like I have one foot in each world. How to bring the skeptic through the looking glass with me? How to have the cliché but well-meaning Christian realize just how off-putting he or she can be, without selling out God’s truth?  These were tightrope negotiations I felt painfully, and prayed over constantly while writing my story.

I’ve commented that your book read almost like a novel to me, and in some ways it had a very fairytale-esque feel. Do you think your love of and familiarity with romantic literature influenced how you told your story in Surprised by Oxford?

Yes, absolutely. I think I tend to be a symbolic, a metaphorical person anyway. God makes us all in many ways, shapes and forms to glorify Him, and I used to be self-conscious of how I saw story in everything, I used to hide this vision. But then becoming a Christian actually freed me into the power of story, made what I was studying even more real and relevant, as it pointed to God’s truth only more for me. And I think that conversion time in my life was particularly influenced by literature because I was so totally immersed in it, as a student of it. Like we all are by certain things in certain seasons of our lives. God’s masterful and such a show off, when we each look back at our day and think, wow, you can’t make this stuff up!

Looking back on your time at Oxford University, what is your fondest memory? Your worst memory?

I have many, many lovely memories of Oxford. My fondest memory by far, however, is when TDH (in the book, my husband Kent in real life returned from the States to propose to me. It’s an amazing and funny moment. I don’t chronicle it in Surprised by Oxford, because it didn’t happen in the course of that year. But I have been asked to pen a sequel, which I’m considering, and if I do, it will certainly be detailed there.

Fortunately, I do not have many negative ones. Probably my worst memory involves a falling out with a dear friend who was a complicated, wonderful person, over some sort of miscommunication. I tried to reach this person later to work it out, but was unable to make any contact. Although it was a typical graduate student melodrama, this still pains me, and I pray for healing there.

Funny how things like exams, grades, accomplishments, etc. do pale in contrast to the memory and effect of relationships, eh?

What is the main thing you want readers to take away from your book?

That we are absolutely beloved of God, and we each have meaning in His story.

What are some books that you’ve enjoyed lately?

I continue to read the classics all the time, returning to ones I haven’t yet gotten around to over the years–finally read Dickens’ Our Mutual Friend lately, and greatly enjoyed it, for instance. I also love more modern Christian writers in all sorts of genres: in the last few months in particular, I was moved by Mary Poplin’s Finding Calcutta, Leslie Leyland Fields’ Surviving the Island of Grace, Cindy Crosby’s By Willoway Brook, and Juliet Benner’s Contemplative Vision. But I read across the board all the time. I do remain loyal to fitting in some Canadian content: I’m looking forward to Michael Ondaatje’s new novel, and I just finally cracked into Life of Pi by Yann Martel.  My husband is reading 25 Books Every Christian Should Read on his kindle–and while I still can’t bring myself to convert to the electronic page–I do find myself snooping in it and waiting to take it over.

Is there any chance of seeing another book from you in the next few years?

Yes, I hope!  I’m actually about to publish a small collection of poems, and I am completing another book for Intervarsity Press by this spring. Its approach combines memoir with spiritual reflection.  I also have a few other projects in the works. I will be announcing their publication dates and availability on my website www.pressingsave.com as this information gets firmed up, so do stay tuned! I’m also enjoying writing a blog series right now entitled “I Read Dead People”. I hope to do a larger study on the relevance of reading good literature to our faith lives down the road.

To learn more about following her on Twitter @CarolynWeber. You can also read my review of Surprised by Oxford and purchase a copy here.

Release Date: August 9, 2011
Author: Website | Twitter | Facebook
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pages/Format: 480 (Paperback)
Genre: Nonfiction, Christian Memoir
Source: Publisher/Booksneeze
My Rating: A+ (View Scale)
Buy from Amazon | Add to Goodreads

When Carolyn arrived at Oxford for her graduate studies, she felt no need for God. Her childhood in a broken but loving family taught her to rely on reason and intellect–not faith–for survival. Eager and expectant, Carolyn set out to study Romantic literature in one of the most inspiring and beautiful academic environments in the world. She had no idea that she was about to embark on a love story of her own–one much deeper, more colorful, and more surprisingly God-shaped than any she’d read before.

Documented over the course of her first school year and organized according to the Oxford liturgical academic calendar, Surprised by Oxford tells the real-life tale of a young woman’s search for–and eventual discovery of–purpose, identity, and what it really means to be human.

One Sentence Review: Surprised by Oxford is a delightful memoir that reads more like a novel and will have you engrossed from start to finish.

In-Depth Review

Surprised by Oxford opens with an encounter Weber had with her seventeenth-century poetry professor while pursuing an undergraduate degree at the University of Western Ontario. She went to ask what he thought of her presentation on John Donne’s sonnet XIV which she “thought was a brilliant analysis of the domination of rape imagery” and “classic subversion by the dominant patriarchy” in the poem. (Pages 2-3)

Dr. Deveaux paused, looked thoughtful, and then resumed walking. I kept pace beside him, expectant. Without missing a step, he said quietly, “It is an interesting reading of the poem, Miss Drake. And you obviously have command of the language. But you didn’t seem to get the point. To really get at the essential grappling. You didn’t untie that ‘subtle knot which makes us man,’ so central to Donne’s spiritual pilgrimage.”

He quickened his stride: “The truth is in the paradox, Miss Drake. Anything not done in submission to God, anything not done to the glory of God, is doomed to failure, frailty, and futility. This is the unholy trinity we humans fear most. And we should, for we entertain it all the time at the pain and expense of not knowing the real one.”

“Huh?” I managed to puff, for Dr. Deveaux was a hard person to keep up with, physically and mentally.

Dr. Deveaux stopped and looked at me hard. He leaned in and whispered, “The rest is bullshit, Miss Drake. It’s as simple as that. Your purpose here in life is to discern the real thing from the bullshit, and then to choose the non-bullshit. Think of the opportunity that God has given you to study as a means by which to attain your own personal bullshit detector. Sometimes that will be particularly difficult, because those who proclaim to know the truth, well intentioned or not, are spewing the most bullshit. But you will know when you have been properly ravished. And then you’ll see, then you’ll see, how the entire world is eyeball deep in it and that we choose it, and that we choose it every day. But the good news is that, although we struggle with it, there is a way out. Yes, there is a very worthy antidote to all the bullshit.”

-Pages 3-4

This is only the first in a series of divine appointments Weber had with scholarly believers who spit out more eloquently phrased nuggets of wisdom than I could ever hope to proffer. One might think that sort of thing (plus the fact that the author is a through-and-through academic) would make this book inaccessible to common folk like myself, but I found it to be quite the opposite. Though most of us will never visit, much less study at such a prestigious institution as Oxford, Weber’s journey to faith is relatable because she struggled with the same doubts, fears, and anger that we all grapple with on the road to faith.

One issue in particular that she wrestles with throughout the book is how the doctrines of Christianity impact women.

How was Jesus as a He relevant to me as a she? . . . being a feminist and a Christian seemed like a no-win scenario. If Jesus has been a woman, feminists would have seen her as just another woman in subordination to a man. Even worse, to the Man.

All of this seemed to be the worst kind of paradox: a feminist Christian, or a Christian feminist. It’s an implosion of such difficult terms. Again, so messy!

-Page 200

Later, Weber describes one solitary stretch of a morning run in early spring:

Anytime I jogged this part alone, I felt nervous. A woman does not have the luxury of obliviousness in a parking lot late at night; a similar threat blemishes an otherwise carefree jog along a secluded path. Fear is at the core of what it means to be a woman, I thought with a twinge of that familiar anger. It is far more empowering to be angry than sad.

. . .

I picked up my pace yet again, motivated by my uneasiness. Were those footsteps behind me?

. . .

Moving my hand to my pocket, I wove my keys through my fingers, just in case.

Running completely on adrenaline now, I heard breathing that was not my own coming up behind me. heavy breathing. I ran clenched, every nerve and every tissue tight.

I stopped breathing. The other breathing was rightthere.

Suddenly it passed me. A fellow runner, focused, steady, gave me a nod over his shoulder as he flew by. I felt his wind on my face like a spirit from the woods. My fear imploded against it. The shards then dissipated in the wake of comprehending the bold black words on the back of his plain white shirt: GOT GOD?

My knees almost collapsed with relief.

-Pages 257-258

Reading the passage above, I thought of the countless times the exact same thing has happened to me while out walking–footsteps growing louder, keys clutched in my sweaty palm, scurrying towards home just as fast as my legs will carry me and wishing my hundred pound frame looked more intimidating. This brand of instinctive fear that is unique to womankind affects how we respond to an all-powerful, distinctly male Deity, whether we’d like to admit it or not. How many women have read Scriptures like Numbers 31:17-18 or Deuteronomy 22:28-29 and not been angered by them? You can spin it any way you want; it’s still messy. So while I see the overarching gospel narrative as empowering to women, I still get hung up on the fine print, which is why I so appreciate Weber’s exploration of this issue and her ultimate acceptance of Christianity despite unresolved emotions and unanswered questions.

I thoroughly enjoyed the writing in this book. Weber is a master wordsmith and she addresses her reader with warmth, wit, and charm. In many ways her writing reminds me of C.S. Lewis (which should come as no surprise since they have a similar educational background), though she possesses a style that is all her own.

I also like how the narrative is split into sections corresponding with the Oxford liturgical calendar and further divided into easily digestible chapters. It’s clear that great care was taken to come up with fitting and creative chapter titles and each chapter begins with a quote by a different literary great, from Blake and Dickinson to Tolstoy and Milton. The literary references aren’t confined to chapter introductions. This book is a treasure-trove for quotation collectors like me (index cards at the ready!).

Surprised by Oxford reads much like an intricately plotted fairy tale, which I theorize has something to do with the fact that a) Weber has been steeped in romantic literature for many years and b) God has a funny way of writing stories that are more remarkable than any fiction. Part romance, part philosophical musing, part celebration of classic literature, Surprised by Oxford will keep you guessing, laughing, thinking, and seeing the gospel through new eyes ‘til the very last page.

About Carolyn Weber:

Carolyn Weber holds her BA from the University of Western Ontario and her MPhil and DPhil degrees from Oxford University. She has been Associate Professor of Romantic Literature at Seattle University. Carolyn and her husband share the joy of parenting three spirited children in Santa Barbara, CA, and London, Canada.

Other Reviews: Books & Culture | Bookwi.se | Challies.com | Gently Mad | The Lord God Exists

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For Review

• Every Body Matters by Gary Thomas (Amazon | Goodreads)
• Four Letter Words by Bill Giovannetti (Amazon | Goodreads)
• My Life and Lesser Catastrophes by Christina Schofield (Amazon | Goodreads)

Unsolicited

• Trusting God by Sharon Jaynes, Gwen Smith, & Mary Southerland (Amazon | Goodreads)

Giveaway Wins

• At Home by Bill Bryson (Amazon | Goodreads)

Purchased

• Passport Through Darkness by Kimberly L. Smith (Amazon | Goodreads)
• Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers (Amazon | Goodreads)

Gifts

• The Old Curiosity Shop (Part 1/2) by Charles Dickens (Amazon | Goodreads)
• Cottonwood Whispers by Jennifer Erin Valent (Amazon | Goodreads)
• Take My Heart, Oh God by Sarah Young (Amazon | Goodreads)
• The Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson (Amazon | Goodreads)
• Over the Edge by Brandilyn Collins (Amazon | Goodreads)
• The Lyme Diet by Nicola McFadzean, ND (Amazon | Goodreads)
• Mark’s Story by Tim LaHaye & Jerry B. Jenkins (Amazon | Goodreads)

Book Exchange Finds

• Nightshade by Ronnie Kendig (Amazon | Goodreads)
• Digitalis by Ronnie Kendig (Amazon | Goodreads)
• Wolfsbane by Ronnie Kendig (Amazon | Goodreads)
• The Shadow of Your Smile by Susan May Warren (Amazon | Goodreads)
• Angel Sister by Ann H. Gabhart (Amazon | Goodreads)
• The Moon in the Mango Tree by Pamela Binnings Ewen (Amazon | Goodreads)
• Paul by Walter Wangerin, Jr. (Amazon | Goodreads)

Library Loot

• Wither by Lauren DeStefano (Amazon | Goodreads)
• Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (Amazon | Goodreads)

Bloggers Mentioned

• Jennifer @ The Introverted Reader
• Rel @ Relz Reviewz

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of The Printed Page and hosted this month by Kim at Metroreader. A Similar meme, In My Mailbox, is hosted by The Story Siren.