Reviews

Where the Light Fell: A Memoir by Philip Yancey

collinaj's review

dark reflective slow-paced

3.0

I have really been moved by the author's other works on Christianity. I thought this book read more like a memoir of his brother than his own life. I was also surprised by how it primarily covered his childhood and adolescence, but not adulthood. A powerfully honest snapshot of growing up poor and White in a fundamentalist belief system in Atlanta during the mid-20th century. Interesting perspective on mental illness, education, and Christinnity. 

bhnmt61's review

Yancey, the author of many books and probably hundreds of magazine pieces about American Christianity, writes movingly in this memoir about his upbringing in a fundamentalist Christian family in Georgia. His childhood is difficult and his college years tumultuous. But by the end, he comes across as a kind, sweet man, caught between the two towering, implacable personalities of his mother and his brother. I was fascinated at first, but found it less interesting as it went on, the same reaction I had to his earlier book Disappointment with God, which I read back in the 90s.

I decided earlier this year that I would stop giving ratings to memoirs since I can’t rate someone’s life. Recommended for anyone who is curious about an inside view of protestant fundamentalism, but I’m not sure it will provide any answers beyond satisfying curiosity if you aren’t already an Evangelical Christian, as Yancey is.

g_rabb's review

challenging informative reflective sad fast-paced

3.0

mgleeson's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

5.0

I enjoyed this memoir from Philip Yancey. There were several things about his life that could have prevented him from becoming the person he is today, but he persevered.  His childhood stories sound pretty spot on for the times, and I loved listening to how his formative years shaped his adult life.  Just a really good memoir.

poplartears's review against another edition

challenging medium-paced

2.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Drug use, and Emotional abuse

bensmucker93's review

emotional inspiring medium-paced

4.5

chrisleesounds's review

5.0

I am truly shocked! I’ve read epic fictional narratives with unbelievable unexpected endings that did t shock me as much as this memoir. I grew up in a very evangelical pocket of East Tennessee, and read Philip Yancy during my evangelicalism. Since rejecting my past conservatism, I have also left behind reading Yancy. This memoir was eye opening, I feel so much compassion for Yancy, and now I’m going to have to read other books of his in light of who Yancy seems to be in reality. I truly loved this memoir!

kvroegop's review

5.0

“I had my back toward the light, and my face toward the things on which the light falls.”

Unputdownable, which is not how I typically feel about memoirs. It’s such an important book, and I think every American Christian should read it. I will say, though, that even though it was really engaging, I did have to take some mental breaks due to the nature of the content.

kanejim57's review

4.0

I have never read a Phillip Yancey book that I did not like. This still holds true with this book.

In going back to the past, Yancey talks about on going issues of the present as he unpacks his life to the reader.

People of a certain faith upbringing will relate to Yancey's story...I did

Thank you Phillip Yancey

joelle_cooper's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75