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rachelleahdorn's review against another edition
3.0
I started reading this about a decade ago. I disliked it and stopped. I thought I'd give it another shot because my Mom had originally recommended it and because now that I am teaching art history classes, maybe I'd feel more of a connection.
I had to admit that the last 25% of the book was better than the first, but I'm not sure the whole is particularly to my taste.
I suspect that this appeals to fairly religious folks the most. I thought the histories would be interesting, but they were told as miracles rather than as histories. I looked up several while I read to see what was true because just saying the picture floats with no means of support and still does and no one has ever mentioned this happens in the real world goes beyond my ability to suspend disbelief for this type of fiction posing as non fiction-kind of.
I had to admit that the last 25% of the book was better than the first, but I'm not sure the whole is particularly to my taste.
I suspect that this appeals to fairly religious folks the most. I thought the histories would be interesting, but they were told as miracles rather than as histories. I looked up several while I read to see what was true because just saying the picture floats with no means of support and still does and no one has ever mentioned this happens in the real world goes beyond my ability to suspend disbelief for this type of fiction posing as non fiction-kind of.
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
4.0
Our Lady of the Lost and Found by Diane Schoemperlen is a knock-out book. It wins on almost all counts. The story revolves around a middle-aged writer who finds herself with an unexpected houseguest who plans to stay for a week. A long-lost friend? A relative barging in? No, just the Virgin Mary who has not had a vacation in 2000 years and has decided that she needs a quiet break from all the prayers, petitions, and miracles. Mary arrives in a long black dress, with a white shawl over her head and white Nikes on her feet--ready to lead a quiet life of chats over breakfast and simple shopping visits to the mall.
Over the course of the week, the unnamed writer learns a lot about Mary, her own life, truth versus fiction, and the real meaning of history. She confronts meaning in her own life and the value of faith. Faith not only in a religious sense, but faith in oneself. She learns that while it may be difficult to believe in God or all of the miracles that have been said to happen in Mary's name, it is often harder to believe in yourself. To believe in the possibilities in your life; to believe in all that you can do.
This was a knock-out book on so many levels. Well-written, with subtle humor. Probing deep questions. It took me quite a while to read this short novel, but that was only because there was so much to ponder and digest. This is a book that I know I will read again and again, because I can already see that I will take new things away from each time I do. The only reason I give this book four and a half stars and not a full five is due to the sheer number of historical Mary visitations recounted. It became a bit repetitive reading all those accounts and I think the book would have been better if the number had been cut down by at least a third, if not half. Overall, a wonderful novel that gives the reader plenty to think about and enjoy.
Over the course of the week, the unnamed writer learns a lot about Mary, her own life, truth versus fiction, and the real meaning of history. She confronts meaning in her own life and the value of faith. Faith not only in a religious sense, but faith in oneself. She learns that while it may be difficult to believe in God or all of the miracles that have been said to happen in Mary's name, it is often harder to believe in yourself. To believe in the possibilities in your life; to believe in all that you can do.
This was a knock-out book on so many levels. Well-written, with subtle humor. Probing deep questions. It took me quite a while to read this short novel, but that was only because there was so much to ponder and digest. This is a book that I know I will read again and again, because I can already see that I will take new things away from each time I do. The only reason I give this book four and a half stars and not a full five is due to the sheer number of historical Mary visitations recounted. It became a bit repetitive reading all those accounts and I think the book would have been better if the number had been cut down by at least a third, if not half. Overall, a wonderful novel that gives the reader plenty to think about and enjoy.
chally09's review against another edition
2.0
Misleading in calling itself a novel. Mary visits the main character, lots of boring narration about housework, but basically the majority of the book is a retelling of famous Marian apparitions throughout the centuries. There is no plot. Mary visits. You’re told about famous apparitions. Mary leaves.
jdyschmdt's review against another edition
2.0
It would have been fine if I was looking for a book about the history of Mary appearances and miracles. It was the majority of the book. I wanted a story of what happened to the woman when Mary stayed at her house. It was that a little. I think I was expecting a comedic adventure or something.
bookthia's review against another edition
5.0
So I read this book years and years ago and didn't realize it never made it to my goodreads list. I still have my copy which demonstrates how much I liked it because I rarely keep books once I have read them. It is a lovely introspective tale about a woman who wakes up on morning to find the Virgin Mary in her kitchen, and develops a friendship with her. It is a slow paced, thoughtful novel, and one of the few where I actually marked passages when they struck a chord. Here is one:
Having found in my own writing that thinking or talking about an idea too much can cause it to evaporate altogether, it occurs to me now that the same paradox applies to faith. Searching too hard for God can get in the way of finding him. Sometimes, you just have to stop looking and let yourself be taken by surprise. Sometimes God is as plain as the nose on your face. And sometimes you just can't see the forest for the trees.
Anyhow, I saw a list of "under appreciated books" on facebook, and it reminded me of this gem. Then I noticed I didn't have it reviewed. How can people know about it then? So here you go. Read this book. It is awesome.
Having found in my own writing that thinking or talking about an idea too much can cause it to evaporate altogether, it occurs to me now that the same paradox applies to faith. Searching too hard for God can get in the way of finding him. Sometimes, you just have to stop looking and let yourself be taken by surprise. Sometimes God is as plain as the nose on your face. And sometimes you just can't see the forest for the trees.
Anyhow, I saw a list of "under appreciated books" on facebook, and it reminded me of this gem. Then I noticed I didn't have it reviewed. How can people know about it then? So here you go. Read this book. It is awesome.
mimima's review against another edition
5.0
On that meme going around Facebook of the 10 books that have stuck with you, this one made my list. This reminded me that I wanted to give it a re-read so I pulled it out and spent a couple of days with it again.
While the Orthodox view of Mary is largely ignored (although Mary's name on her ATM card is Mary Theotokos) in this delightful novel, I loved the meditations and thoughts brought up in the book. It's more along the vein of Kathleen Norris' writing (who is credited in the author's notes) than a fabulous story - but there's things to ponder about faith, doubt, God, time, and Mary herself.
A keeper indeed.
While the Orthodox view of Mary is largely ignored (although Mary's name on her ATM card is Mary Theotokos) in this delightful novel, I loved the meditations and thoughts brought up in the book. It's more along the vein of Kathleen Norris' writing (who is credited in the author's notes) than a fabulous story - but there's things to ponder about faith, doubt, God, time, and Mary herself.
A keeper indeed.
raehink's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
mcsquared's review against another edition
3.0
Best put by author herself in book "it is disorganized,plotless,unsatisfying, often unbelievable, apparently pointless, sometimes boring, and it frequently amounts to much ado about nothing."
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