Reviews with content warning for Alcoholism - Becoming Mrs. Lewis

Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan

7 reviews

lizisreadingagain's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

It’s difficult to review this fictionalized story of the relationship between C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman. I found most of the book to be a page-turner because of the way it is written and how I’m intrigued by C.S. Lewis, but some things bothered me that leave me torn on my opinion.

I’m very fond of letter writing, so when ongoing correspondence is an element in a story, it has my attention. This book had plenty of it.

I really loved the story, the people, and the literary atmosphere, and I was prepared to say it’s probably the best book I’ll read this year. So what has me torn? It’s the way Joy was portrayed. I felt uncomfortable at times. The book is written in Joy’s voice, and as she begins realizing she’s in love with Jack, the descriptions of her feelings and thoughts were sensual. It was clear that she wanted to be intimate with him. After a couple of these descriptions, I checked the back of the book to make sure it was a Christian publisher. It seemed out of place to me and unnecessary. There was enough information to know she was in love with him without inserting the sensual. I know I’m quite conservative and understand that other readers will not be bothered by it at all.

I want to give 5 stars for the storytelling but pull back for this bit of content that bugs me. I guess I’ll land on 4 stars.

Content Warnings:
🙊: Mild language
❤️: Several sensual descriptions, and one brief married intimacy scene without graphic descriptions
⚠️: Emotional abuse, infidelity, frequent alcohol consumption

Content Warnings

bethlee's review

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

author2223's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Content Warnings

lucibello's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is the best historical fiction, and by far the best romance novel I have ever read. The speed picked up a little I to it (so keep reading). But I don't believe a book has ever touched my heart quite like this one.

Content Warnings