Take a photo of a barcode or cover
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Becoming Mrs Lewis is a vivid portrait of the woman who inspired, and loved, the famed author and theologian CS Lewis. As Callahan points out in her Author’s Note, the women involved with famous male artists, authors, creatives, and other historical figures are too often ___ to the footnotes of the story. Here, Callahan allows Joy Davidman, also a writer, to step into the light.
~
I do think having background information in her relationship to CS Lewis is importing before reading the book. A lot of my fellow book club members expressed frustration over how slowly the romance developed (they don’t kiss until nearly the end of the book) and how the book focuses so much on Joy’s life and relationship before she and Lewis married. However, I knew from my time studying the Inklings in college how the story would end, and went into the book expecting just that.
~
If you like yearning, unrequited love, or slow burn type romances, Becoming Mrs Lewis may be for you! However, don’t expect a simple historical romance; there is also tons of character development! Joy is messy, imperfect, impatient, jealous….. as another club member pointed out, the title is BECOMING Mrs. Lewis, capturing Joy’s transformation over the years of knowing CS Lewis.
Major content warning for domestic violence, alcoholism, cancer
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Domestic abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Infidelity
Minor: Sexual content, Antisemitism, War
Becoming Mrs Lewis is a vivid portrait of the woman who inspired, and loved, the famed author and theologian CS Lewis. As Callahan points out in her Author’s Note, the women involved with famous male artists, authors, creatives, and other historical figures are too often ___ to the footnotes of the story. Here, Callahan allows Joy Davidman, also a writer, to step into the light.
~
I do think having background information in her relationship to CS Lewis is importing before reading the book. A lot of my fellow book club members expressed frustration over how slowly the romance developed (they don’t kiss until nearly the end of the book) and how the book focuses so much on Joy’s life and relationship before she and Lewis married. However, I knew from my time studying the Inklings in college how the story would end, and went into the book expecting just that.
~
If you like yearning, unrequited love, or slow burn type romances, Becoming Mrs Lewis may be for you! However, don’t expect a simple historical romance; there is also tons of character development! Joy is messy, imperfect, impatient, jealous….. as another club member pointed out, the title is BECOMING Mrs. Lewis, capturing Joy’s transformation over the years of knowing CS Lewis.
Major content warning for domestic violence, alcoholism, cancer
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
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
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
Moderate: Infidelity, Medical trauma
Minor: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Antisemitism, Alcohol
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Antisemitism
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:
Complicated
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
Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Emotional abuse, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Deportation