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judebugs's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
5.0
biblenerd's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
susylamb's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
An academic memoir of her journey through Oxford and eventually to Christ. Didn’t agree with everything she put forth, but it was a beautiful journey to behold how she found Christ. Very heavy on CS Lewis, John Milton, Homer and other quotes and influences.
mgmoore's review against another edition
4.0
A really good memoir of a woman's spiritual journey. A bit clunky in places, particularly the reenacted dialogue in favor of faith; they made me appreciate Donald Miller all the more. But the memoir part, which is the vast majority of the book, is beautiful and poignant.
adamrshields's review against another edition
5.0
Short review: beautifully written memoir of the author's first year at Oxford and how she found faith there. Favorite memoir of the year.
Longer review on my blog at http://bookwi.se/surprised/
I have since re-read the memoir and offered up another review at http://bookwi.se/surprised-by-oxford-a-memoir-by-carolyn-weber-read-again-review/
Longer review on my blog at http://bookwi.se/surprised/
I have since re-read the memoir and offered up another review at http://bookwi.se/surprised-by-oxford-a-memoir-by-carolyn-weber-read-again-review/
caitlin_89's review against another edition
5.0
Five stars for readability. I thought this memoir was excellently crafted. Weber has a clear knack for storytelling and a passionate engagement with life and its questions.
Of course, I read other reviews before writing mine, which I've got to stop doing, and in retrospect the memoir does seem a bit rode colored. She speaks of conversion and Christianity being hard and full of doubts and trials, which it is, but these all seem kind of swept under the rug by the Great Love story. Which isn't necessarily bad. I enjoyed the whole book. Just in hindsight, a few grittier passages might have lent this book a bit of added depth.
Regardless, I'm impressed with her command of the Romantics and her ability to weave a narrative with symbols and engaging structure. Very good.
Of course, I read other reviews before writing mine, which I've got to stop doing, and in retrospect the memoir does seem a bit rode colored. She speaks of conversion and Christianity being hard and full of doubts and trials, which it is, but these all seem kind of swept under the rug by the Great Love story. Which isn't necessarily bad. I enjoyed the whole book. Just in hindsight, a few grittier passages might have lent this book a bit of added depth.
Regardless, I'm impressed with her command of the Romantics and her ability to weave a narrative with symbols and engaging structure. Very good.
rachelmonty's review against another edition
4.0
I love a good memoir! I felt so encouraged by the author as well as her friends who talked with her about Jesus. Loved TDH. (I listened to this book and heard TBH for the first half