Reviews

Miracles and Other Reasonable Things: A Story of Unlearning and Relearning God by Sarah Bessey

bookishmeganreadsbooks's review against another edition

5.0

This book feels like being held in the most loving embrace. I feel safe and loved and so deeply understood. The writing is beautiful and the story that it weaves is thought-provoking and has already impacted my life deeply. I can’t wait to read it again.

mary00's review against another edition

4.0

Not having been raised in a traditional Christian faith, much of the terminology used in this book felt foreign to me, but the thoughts and concepts mostly resonated.

brimckoy's review against another edition

5.0

I truly could not put this book down. I feel like I’ve been in a slump lately with faith books. So, as much as I love what Sarah writes online, I was cautious with my excitement to read her new book. I picked it up on Monday morning, couldn’t put it down. Cancelled Monday. Finished the book. I then immediately purchased the book online at the Barnes and Noble in my mom’s town for pickup. When it was ready for pick-up I sent her the pick-up confirmation. (By the way, I love a good Amazon package but nothing is quite as exciting as a text or email that says, “Surprise, there is a book ready for you to pick up at your local Barnes and Noble! Go grab a coffee on the way and get your gift!”)

Bessey's writing is truly fantastic and in a way that makes you feel like Sarah is talking directly to you. Not in a stuffy way that makes you feel like she is above you or over you. She tells her stories of miracles, healing, sickness, and faith with such grace and clarity that it gives us the permission and grace to more thoroughly examine our own stories of miracles, healing, sickness, and faith.

kirsty's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this book. It’s a book about Sarah’s life and how her faith is evolving and even though my own story is different, there is much comfort, reassurance and challenge in the resonances with Sarah’s story.

christie_esau's review against another edition

5.0

Proper review coming later after my eyes stop leaking from Sarah's benediction.

lilenerae's review against another edition

5.0

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher. I had been waiting for this book for what seems like forever and so receiving it early was delightful. It took me very little time at all to read as the story drew me in immediately and didn't let me go until the last page. Like the previous books she has written, Sarah continues to offer up deep spiritual wisdom with the gentle and firm voice of a good friend. As she shares her own life, she pulls back the veil to deeper and more universal truths about God, spirituality and what it means to be human. Sarah's bold honesty about both her assurance and her doubt allow the reader the safety to admit and wrestle with their own struggles as they read. This book is both the Miracle this reader needed and the reasonable truth that it presents. The book is comforting and uncomfortable, it deals in the beautiful parodoxes of faith. Sarah grasps the complexity of faith and doubt and with her words brings the two together to form a beautiful book. I will definitely be reading this again and recommending to many people I care about.

freckleduck's review against another edition

2.0

I liked how this book made me think but in some ways it didn’t hit, I think it just wasn’t for me at this time.

sarahanne8382's review against another edition

5.0

I don't know how Sarah Bessey always manages to speak so perfectly to my soul, but she does and she did it again here, with the tale of how her perfectly okay life got completely overturned by a car accident and her body's refusal to heal afterwards. Her healing journey takes her to room to visit the Pope, to Prince Edward Island to visit the sites of her favorite author (and mine), Lucy Maud Montgomery, and more importantly, forces her to look for God in the hard times.

carroll79's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

ginabyeg's review against another edition

5.0

I always enjoy Sarah Bessey’s writing. Her storytelling style has resonated with me since her blogging days. As someone working through her own personal health issues, coming to terms with God in the midst of that, this was an encouraging read. I appreciated Sarah’s authenticity as she shared her story, and found myself nodding in several places, tearing up in others. I appreciate her brave way of reminding us that we are not alone in our experience, and that God is here-with-us—even on the days we don’t believe it.