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kamrynharned's review against another edition
fast-paced
5.0
Recommended by both Aspen & Helena, I knew I was going to fall in love with this book. Rather than fall short trying to explain all that this book accomplishes, I’ll try to list the things that made me feel, in the many senses and depths of the word:
- The blissful ignorance of pre-married lovers made me laugh (“Of course, we’ve talked about everything that needs to be talked about!”)
- The adoration of simplicity and beauty made me want to move to the country, lay in the grass and watch the clouds
- The way the formed dreams and then made them reality was inspirational - they weren’t simply poets with their heads in the clouds.
- The incredibly moving conversion story of both Davy and Sheldon moved me deeply and satisfied a yearning that I think I’ve felt for a while - to know what it feels like to encounter God for the FIRST time, to make that step from darkness to light.
- The community they had in Oxford challenged me to broaden my hospitality and deepen my expectations for the kinds of conversations that can be had among friends
- His letters from C.S. Lewis left me in awe - of his ability to speak directly and succinctly, but in such beautiful prose
- The stories of Davy ministering to those in the hospital left me inspired
- The strengthening of their love through hardship and sickness made me want to cry
- The death of Davy was exactly the way death SHOULD be - so for someone who has seen both horrible and beautiful deaths, I was incredibly satisfied, and oddly, the main emotion I felt wasn’t sadness. Perhaps that was the authors intent?
- Sheldon’s reflections after death made me have to put the book down occasionally - not because I was bored but because I was processing. His thoughts on grief, the necessary death of love, the meaning of time, and the Severe Mercy of Death made me feel like I had just been bettered. It made me feel thankful - thankful that I can face future deaths in my own life with hopefully the same voracity and wholeness of grief, and thankful that I have a love that will one day be so shattering to lose.
- All of the poetry in this book was inspiring and stunning. I wanted to sit and bask in the words, but I was so enamored with the story that I had to keep moving forward. I think my favorite poem was “Dying” (pg 167)
- And finally, an honorable mention to every gorgeous sentence that made me feel the warm fuzzies. There were a lot of them.
jonahbarnes's review
A good read, well worth it. Commands the growth of love for God and neighbor. Made me cry a time or two. Lewis is a giant.
chemistreader's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.5
Wow. This book is so deep and rich. It is worth reading for the letters from and insight into C.S. Lewis alone. The poem on the dedication page had me in tears before I even began.
And yet, I have very mixed feelings on it. Van’s reflections on marriage, eternity, his and Davy’s conversion, and grief are so profound and deep. Surprisingly, esp given his direct allusions to Elliot’s very abstract Four Quartets, I found his writing to be very accessible. Having said that, I found Van very self-absorbed, or maybe a better word would be “couple-absorbed”. While I appreciate how self effacing and honest he was, his jealousy of God was presumptuous and pompous. Furthermore, his insistence on shared experiences with Davy was taken to such an extreme that was misguided at best and hypocritical at worst. Though this may be the product of his initial paganism coupled with his academic mind and environment at Oxford and the like, it was hard to let those points go.
I think where this book falls short is in its format as a memoir. Particularly, Van and Davy’s conversion story and explanation of the Shining Barrier could’ve been enriched by a more autobiographical background on their past particularity their upbringing and childhood. For example, in finding out more about Davy’s background, their unsound decision to not have children made much more sense. The lack of recognition of their privilege and freedom to live the life they lived and pursue their endeavors was also a weakness.
Having said this, I think I can appreciate this memoir for what it is. An understanding that this represents the beginnings of his conversion which wasn’t fully complete until much later is also a necessary lens to appreciate this book. It was evident that Van did not yet fully understand all that Lewis was saying to him especially the workings of God’s Grace in his life.
Overall, despite its shortcomings, I think this book is a valuable read and should especially provide hope for the conversion of academics and intellectuals.
And yet, I have very mixed feelings on it. Van’s reflections on marriage, eternity, his and Davy’s conversion, and grief are so profound and deep. Surprisingly, esp given his direct allusions to Elliot’s very abstract Four Quartets, I found his writing to be very accessible. Having said that, I found Van very self-absorbed, or maybe a better word would be “couple-absorbed”. While I appreciate how self effacing and honest he was, his jealousy of God was presumptuous and pompous. Furthermore, his insistence on shared experiences with Davy was taken to such an extreme that was misguided at best and hypocritical at worst. Though this may be the product of his initial paganism coupled with his academic mind and environment at Oxford and the like, it was hard to let those points go.
I think where this book falls short is in its format as a memoir. Particularly, Van and Davy’s conversion story and explanation of the Shining Barrier could’ve been enriched by a more autobiographical background on their past particularity their upbringing and childhood. For example, in finding out more about Davy’s background, their unsound decision to not have children made much more sense. The lack of recognition of their privilege and freedom to live the life they lived and pursue their endeavors was also a weakness.
Having said this, I think I can appreciate this memoir for what it is. An understanding that this represents the beginnings of his conversion which wasn’t fully complete until much later is also a necessary lens to appreciate this book. It was evident that Van did not yet fully understand all that Lewis was saying to him especially the workings of God’s Grace in his life.
Overall, despite its shortcomings, I think this book is a valuable read and should especially provide hope for the conversion of academics and intellectuals.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: War
Minor: Animal death
enigmadame's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
2.5
Good grief, I thought it would never end. What a self-centered reflection and not-maturing of an individual person. There were very many good quotes taken, but zero were from his poetry and most were from C. S. Lewis. Very, very glad to be done with this.
micky14568's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.25