I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan Henry Published by Thomas Nelson on October 2, 2018
Genres: Fiction / Biographical & Autofiction, Fiction / Christian / Historical, Fiction / Family Life / Marriage & Divorce, Fiction / Romance / Historical / 20th Century
Pages: 416
Format: ARC, Audiobook
Source: NetGalley
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Meet the brilliant writer, fiercely independent mother, and passionate woman who captured the heart of C.S. Lewis and inspired the books that still enchant and change us today, from the?New York Times?bestselling author of?The Story She Left Behind.
When poet and writer Joy Davidman began writing letters to C. S. Lewis--known as Jack--she was looking for spiritual answers, not love. Love, after all, wasn't holding together her crumbling marriage. Everything about New Yorker Joy seemed ill-matched for an Oxford professor and the beloved writer of The Chronicles of Narnia, yet their minds bonded over their letters.
Embarking on the adventure of her life, Joy traveled from America to England and back again, facing heartbreak and poverty, discovering friendship and faith, and against all odds, found a love that even the threat of death couldn't destroy.
In this masterful exploration of one of the greatest love stories of modern times, we meet a brilliant writer, a fiercely independent mother, and a passionate woman who changed the life of this respected author and inspired books that still enchant us and change us. Joy lived at a time when women weren't meant to have a voice--and yet her love for Jack gave them both voices they didn't know they had.
At once a fascinating historical novel and a glimpse into a writer's life, Becoming Mrs. Lewis is above all a love story--a love of literature and ideas and a love between a husband and wife that, in the end, was not impossible at all.
This expanded edition includes a map of Oxford, an expanded discussion guide with more than 20 questions that are perfect for book clubs, a timeline of Jack's and Joy's lives, Joy's (imagined) letter to Jack, 10 things you may not know about Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis's love story, and a behind-the-scenes essay on the city of Oxford.
"Callahan crafts a masterpiece that details the friendship and ultimate romance between the real Davidman and Lewis . . . a magical and literary experience that won't be soon forgotten." --LIBRARY JOURNAL, STARRED review | ". . . an incredible portrait of a complex woman." --PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, STARRED review | ". . . a deeply moving story about love and loss that is transformative and magical." --PAM JENOFF | "I was swept along, filled with hope, and entirely beguiled." --LISA WINGATE | "This is the book Patti Callahan was born to write. Becoming Mrs. Lewis is a tour de force and the must-read of the season!" --MARY ALICE MONROE
I think I was meant to put off reading this book. I’ve had it from NetGalley from the great before, and then it showed up on the Book Girls Guide for June. I pulled up my eBook, excited to do two birds with one stone, if you will, and then stalled. I truly struggled to get through the first chapter. Oh, the words, all the words, and nothing made sense, and to be honest, I didn’t know the history or the why for the story. But, Libby to the rescue with the audiobook, and not despite the issues I sometimes have with audiobooks, this was perfect for me. Maybe I wouldn’t have struggled all those years ago. I was a different reader then, but honestly, it was perfect that I chose the audiobook, so I’m telling myself it was meant to be.
Before you send me to the gallows, let me tell you a little story. I’ve never read C.S. Lewis. I never read the Chronicles of Narnia. Even as a child, fantasy was not my genre. I’ve read some as an adult, but honestly, not my genre (even less so than romance for what it’s worth). Because his writing was something that I never gravitated to, that never pulled my attention, I honestly knew next to nothing about the man, much less his words. Coming into this book, I literally didn’t have any reference points to understand the biography behind this book. Perhaps why I struggled initially reading this book. I did a little, very little, of my own research to understand the reason behind this story. And what I found was just how deeply this author did her own research to provide the truest possible fictional account. So close to being a biography while still rooted in fiction.
There are a lot of words. A. Lot. Of. Words. Normally, that is a turn-off for me, but here, for whatever reason, in the audiobook, I felt like those words were necessary to tell the story and paint the picture that is the slow-burn love story that is Jack and Joy. There’s a lot of name-dropping of other famous names of the time, but it didn’t feel forced; rather, it felt like a narrative of a pen pal friendship developing into more. It’s a slow-paced read and a lot of words. It’s not a clean, wholesome Christian romance novel. It’s a novel based on real people who had real experiences, real love, and real foibles. There may be things that a Christian reader may find offensive to their faith. This is not their faith; this is the life of Jack and Joy, not some characters that are created for our enjoyment. While I really enjoyed this book, it doesn’t make me want to run out and read some fantasy. But I might check out the movies.
About Patti Callahan Henry
Patti Callahan Henry is a New York Times, Globe and Mail, and USA Today bestselling author of seventeen novels, including her newest, The Story She Left Behind. She’s also a podcast host of original content for her novels, Surviving Savannah and Becoming Mrs. Lewis.
Her books have been translated into over 20 languages and have been the Barnes and Noble Book Club Pick, Amazon Editor Pick, Goodreads Book of the Year finalist, People Magazine Choice, Book of the Month Selection, and more. She is the recipient of The Christy Award “Book of the Year”; The Harper Lee Distinguished Writer of the Year and the Alabama Library Association Book of the Year for Becoming Mrs. Lewis.
She is the co-host and co-creator of the popular weekly online Friends and Fiction live web show and podcast. Patti also was a contributor to the monthly life lesson essay column for Parade Magazine. She’s published in numerous anthologies, articles, and short story collections, including an Audible Original about Florence Nightingale, titled Wild Swan narrated by the Tony Award winner, Cynthia Erivo.
Growing up in Philadelphia as the daughter of a Presbyterian minister, she’s lived up and down the East Coast from Philadelphia, to Florida, to Atlanta. She now lives in Mountain Brook, Alabama.
Patti attended Auburn University for her undergraduate work and Georgia State University for her graduate degree. Once a Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, she now writes full-time. Married to Pat Henry, the mother of three and grandmother of two.
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