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mirandanoble's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Really, I just think this book showed up at the perfect time in my life. It showed me how so many people maintain hope in so many ways that I’ve been taught my whole life are for some reason not valid.
acesarrows's review
4.0
This book is a collection of thoughtfully penned essays on religion, spirituality and life. Most are from those who, although not perhaps 'religious' in the official sense, are still very much spiritual, and open to exploring religion, and spirituality, and asking those questions that remain unanswered. There were a few essays from atheists and agnostics, a few from Buddhists and Jews, and one from a Muslim.
Issues of loss, death, and aging are all discussed - and some people turn to religion in those situations, and some shout to the heavens about the unfairness of a kind and loving god who allows terrible things to happen. More than one essay made me cry - both with the heartbreak of the story, and the beauty of the writing.
I enjoyed most of the essays - although some more than others. I thoroughly enjoyed the essay by David Corbett, Love and Insomnia, the essay by Pam Houston If there is a God, Why Would S(He) Waste All Her Time Making Hell?, Grace Happens by Barbara Graham, Poof! by Aviva Layton and Keep the Faith by Christine Kehl O'Hagan.
The one essay that stood out to me as strange was the one by Anne Perry. She spoke about forgiveness and how it effects her faith, but there was a glaring hole in her essay - her own historical context and history of forgiveness. Anne Perry was convicted of murder when she was 15 and spent 5 years in prison. I think those actions would have some impact on her life and spirituality, yet that context was missing from her essay. Some of what she wrote struck me as disingenuous.
Truly a wonderful collection of essays on timeless topics, and each individual brings their own unique viewpoint and history to the book, making each essay a mini-biography, mini-history and mini-philosophy discussion with many different individuals.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
Issues of loss, death, and aging are all discussed - and some people turn to religion in those situations, and some shout to the heavens about the unfairness of a kind and loving god who allows terrible things to happen. More than one essay made me cry - both with the heartbreak of the story, and the beauty of the writing.
I enjoyed most of the essays - although some more than others. I thoroughly enjoyed the essay by David Corbett, Love and Insomnia, the essay by Pam Houston If there is a God, Why Would S(He) Waste All Her Time Making Hell?, Grace Happens by Barbara Graham, Poof! by Aviva Layton and Keep the Faith by Christine Kehl O'Hagan.
The one essay that stood out to me as strange was the one by Anne Perry. She spoke about forgiveness and how it effects her faith, but there was a glaring hole in her essay - her own historical context and history of forgiveness. Anne Perry was convicted of murder when she was 15 and spent 5 years in prison. I think those actions would have some impact on her life and spirituality, yet that context was missing from her essay. Some of what she wrote struck me as disingenuous.
Truly a wonderful collection of essays on timeless topics, and each individual brings their own unique viewpoint and history to the book, making each essay a mini-biography, mini-history and mini-philosophy discussion with many different individuals.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.
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