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debbiecuddy's review against another edition
3.0
This book is a fictionalized story of the relationship between Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis. Although most of their correspondence has been destroyed, the book was well researched and there is a nice bibliography for further reading at the end of the book.
I found parts of the dialogue to be unbelievable and parts of the story repetitive, but overall, I liked it; it was charming and it makes me want to read Joy Davidman's poetry and go back and re-read C. S. Lewis.
I found parts of the dialogue to be unbelievable and parts of the story repetitive, but overall, I liked it; it was charming and it makes me want to read Joy Davidman's poetry and go back and re-read C. S. Lewis.
thistlereads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
momloves2read's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity
floer009's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A beautiful, real, loving story. Learning more about C.S Lewis, who I love, and who his wife was. A great story!
karingforbooks's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I’m of two kinds for this book.
On the one hand, writing in first person as a writer of poetry and a later in life convert to Christianity, the author does a fantastic job. The language is descriptive and effusive and flowery and the religious aspect is a central theme.
Enjoyment wise however, precisely because of those two items, I didn’t like it as much. The descriptions felt too flowery and the religion was more central than I wanted.
So I struggle to rate this. Hence 3 stars because it’s fine to me personally but probably amazing if you don’t mind it even enjoy either of those two items that are my biggest issues.
On the one hand, writing in first person as a writer of poetry and a later in life convert to Christianity, the author does a fantastic job. The language is descriptive and effusive and flowery and the religious aspect is a central theme.
Enjoyment wise however, precisely because of those two items, I didn’t like it as much. The descriptions felt too flowery and the religion was more central than I wanted.
So I struggle to rate this. Hence 3 stars because it’s fine to me personally but probably amazing if you don’t mind it even enjoy either of those two items that are my biggest issues.
hannah_lou's review against another edition
I really, really wanted to like this book. But, honestly, it was so boring and slow-moving. I dreaded reading it, so I knew it was time to DNF.
pam_sartain's review against another edition
4.0
My review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Becoming Mrs Lewis by Patti Callahan appealed to me because of C.S. Lewis. The only things I knew about him before reading this book was that he wrote the Narnia books, which I loved, and that he was Christian, with Aslan actually being God.
Whilst C.S. Lewis (or Jack, as his friends called him) is an important character in this book, the main character is Joy Davidman, a Jewish New Yorker, who first writes to Jack (much easier to type than C.S. Lewis, and so I will steal it for this.) whilst she is married, and has two small sons.
Joy has a hard life. She and her husband are both writers (he was William Lindsay Gresham), but he wants her to be a 'proper' wife, which during the 1940s onwards means looking after the house, the children, and your husband. Joy is made to feel selfish in her desire to write. Her husband is an alcoholic, who helps Joy to find God when he is out boozing yet again, and she has a spiritual epiphany whilst worrying. Finding God is why Joy writes to Jack, who also found God later in life, and wrote about it.
This book is peppered through with quotes from letters and poems, which adds to hearing their voices. Whilst the poems are real, I don't know if the letters are, as we are told that Jack destroys all correspondence once he has replied.
Whilst it looks at Joy and Jack's beliefs, I didn't feel like it was trying to convert me, it was just exploring what they believed, and how that impacted their lives.
If you enjoy historical fiction, and looking at famous lives, or getting a glimpse more of the Inklings (the writing group that C.S. Lewis was part of, with J.R.R. Tolkien, and others!), then you'll enjoy this! Though, do be warned that Joy's time with William is abusive, which some may find upsetting.
Patti Callahan also writes under Patti Callahan Henry, and is a New York Times bestselling author of quite a few books!
Becoming Mrs Lewis was published on 16th May 2019, and is available to buy on Amazon and on Waterstones. I've found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!
I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to HarperCollins and Harper Inspire (the publishers) for this book.
Check out my GoodReads profile to see more reviews!
Becoming Mrs Lewis by Patti Callahan appealed to me because of C.S. Lewis. The only things I knew about him before reading this book was that he wrote the Narnia books, which I loved, and that he was Christian, with Aslan actually being God.
Whilst C.S. Lewis (or Jack, as his friends called him) is an important character in this book, the main character is Joy Davidman, a Jewish New Yorker, who first writes to Jack (much easier to type than C.S. Lewis, and so I will steal it for this.) whilst she is married, and has two small sons.
Joy has a hard life. She and her husband are both writers (he was William Lindsay Gresham), but he wants her to be a 'proper' wife, which during the 1940s onwards means looking after the house, the children, and your husband. Joy is made to feel selfish in her desire to write. Her husband is an alcoholic, who helps Joy to find God when he is out boozing yet again, and she has a spiritual epiphany whilst worrying. Finding God is why Joy writes to Jack, who also found God later in life, and wrote about it.
This book is peppered through with quotes from letters and poems, which adds to hearing their voices. Whilst the poems are real, I don't know if the letters are, as we are told that Jack destroys all correspondence once he has replied.
Whilst it looks at Joy and Jack's beliefs, I didn't feel like it was trying to convert me, it was just exploring what they believed, and how that impacted their lives.
If you enjoy historical fiction, and looking at famous lives, or getting a glimpse more of the Inklings (the writing group that C.S. Lewis was part of, with J.R.R. Tolkien, and others!), then you'll enjoy this! Though, do be warned that Joy's time with William is abusive, which some may find upsetting.
Patti Callahan also writes under Patti Callahan Henry, and is a New York Times bestselling author of quite a few books!
Becoming Mrs Lewis was published on 16th May 2019, and is available to buy on Amazon and on Waterstones. I've found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!
I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to HarperCollins and Harper Inspire (the publishers) for this book.
Check out my GoodReads profile to see more reviews!
amberjackonski's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Domestic abuse
marlisenicole's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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
asanford's review against another edition
5.0
I have always been a CS Lewis fan but this book made me love him more. And to hear the story of his wonderful and talented wife was just so so sweet. Joy’s son said that this book is so very accurate - even though it is a story of fiction. It pulls from biographies and their writing. If you love CS Lewis - read this.