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leviofmichigan's review against another edition
4.0
Good book, really made me want to get back into reading L'Engle, however, I had to take away one star because the author referred to universalism as "the heresy of universalism." What the heck. That's a bold statement. Please save that for your theological investigations or sermons, and get that judgment out of a book about someone who was basically a universalist, whether she liked that label or not. A universalist, by my understanding, is a person who does not believe that the majority of G-d's created people will find their ultimate end in eternal torment. The person may believe this because it is what they have gathered from the Bible, or they may believe it because they simply cannot fathom it being any other way. Both perspectives are valid. None of it is heresy.
ralovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Recommended, but know that the target audience is Christian readers
I was impressed with this new release! I had approached the book somewhat skeptically, standing back a bit with my arms crossed, not sure whether there was new ground to tread in terms of Madeleine and faith. Hadn’t Madeleine said it all herself, in her works on the topic? However, the book redeemed itself with primary accounts from Madeleine's friends and family, reflections on her as a writer and a person, and challenging, encouraging, invigorating words about the Christian faith in general. I’m glad I own a copy that I can refer back to, and it has definitely earned its spot in my Madeleine collection.
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At times, it's hard to tell where her influence leaves off and my own thinking begins. (18)
What would it look like to have friendships with those who are not like us, wherein we can learn to argue well and lovingly -- and yet at the end of the day we can still be friends? This is a lost art in our culture, particularly as we create ever narrower, taller, insular silos on social media, cut off from opposing viewpoints. ... False unity is no healthier than silos of like-mindedness. (43)
We affirm the faith by participating in its communal stories together. (82)
The radical call of faith is not to insist upon a set of universal principles about right and wrong, but to offer an alternative story by which lives can be shaped into new instincts, new practices, new ways of speaking and being in the world. (90)
Scientific pursuit, then, becomes a key spiritual discipline -- a gateway, the prelude, to worship. (117)
... she said, "We read stories, and we write stories because we ask the big questions to which there are no finite answers. We tell stories about people who give us our best answers, in the way that they live and work out their lives and treat other people and try to find the truth." If a novel isn't about those questions, then what is it doing? (123)
Prayer, worship, reading Scripture, breaking bread in community, spiritual counsel, and conversation with spiritual friends: all those are ways we put one foot in front of the other, even in the dark. These are the ways we practice believing. (190)
It starts with the closing of the shutters against the darkness. It starts with our determination to go to bed quietly and fearlessly, talking to God about our day. Then, when dawn comes, we can arise like Madeleine, open the shutters, and let in the light so lovely, whether we feel like it or not. (193)
... we don't inhabit some kind of eternal Pinterest board, surrounded by inspirational phrases and uncluttered homes and well-behaved children. That sounds just a little too much like Camazotz, actually. (201)
I was impressed with this new release! I had approached the book somewhat skeptically, standing back a bit with my arms crossed, not sure whether there was new ground to tread in terms of Madeleine and faith. Hadn’t Madeleine said it all herself, in her works on the topic? However, the book redeemed itself with primary accounts from Madeleine's friends and family, reflections on her as a writer and a person, and challenging, encouraging, invigorating words about the Christian faith in general. I’m glad I own a copy that I can refer back to, and it has definitely earned its spot in my Madeleine collection.
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At times, it's hard to tell where her influence leaves off and my own thinking begins. (18)
What would it look like to have friendships with those who are not like us, wherein we can learn to argue well and lovingly -- and yet at the end of the day we can still be friends? This is a lost art in our culture, particularly as we create ever narrower, taller, insular silos on social media, cut off from opposing viewpoints. ... False unity is no healthier than silos of like-mindedness. (43)
We affirm the faith by participating in its communal stories together. (82)
The radical call of faith is not to insist upon a set of universal principles about right and wrong, but to offer an alternative story by which lives can be shaped into new instincts, new practices, new ways of speaking and being in the world. (90)
Scientific pursuit, then, becomes a key spiritual discipline -- a gateway, the prelude, to worship. (117)
... she said, "We read stories, and we write stories because we ask the big questions to which there are no finite answers. We tell stories about people who give us our best answers, in the way that they live and work out their lives and treat other people and try to find the truth." If a novel isn't about those questions, then what is it doing? (123)
Prayer, worship, reading Scripture, breaking bread in community, spiritual counsel, and conversation with spiritual friends: all those are ways we put one foot in front of the other, even in the dark. These are the ways we practice believing. (190)
It starts with the closing of the shutters against the darkness. It starts with our determination to go to bed quietly and fearlessly, talking to God about our day. Then, when dawn comes, we can arise like Madeleine, open the shutters, and let in the light so lovely, whether we feel like it or not. (193)
... we don't inhabit some kind of eternal Pinterest board, surrounded by inspirational phrases and uncluttered homes and well-behaved children. That sounds just a little too much like Camazotz, actually. (201)
heatherdmoore's review
5.0
A beautiful biography of a complicated woman. Arthur presented a balanced view of L’Engle without going the route of either idolizing or disparaging, and her insights (especially about the world today) were incredibly spot on. This was a delight to listen on audio, but there were so many quotable moments that I wished I had been reading a hard copy.
krhea's review against another edition
5.0
This book became very special to me. Fearless and thoughtful and real and direct and humble and endlessly encouraging. I already know I'm going to want to pick it up again and again as the world or my thoughts get too heavy.
alltheradreads's review against another edition
3.0
Confession: I never really understood all the hype around A Wrinkle in Time. It just never grabbed me, as a kid or as an adult. Walking on Water, though, I resonated with and loved. I was curious to know more about the author of them both, and was excited to see this book come on my radar! Madeleine is a fascinating woman with remarkable talent and beautiful faith, and I loved reading more about her story, her influences, her decisions, her family life, and more. If you like author biographies, this would be a great one to grab next! I especially loved the parallels (and the highlighted differences) to C.S. Lewis (my fave!). Can’t wait to keep reading L’Engle books and learning from her lasting legacy! (Thanks, BookLook Bloggers, for sending me this one to review.)
sharolyn's review against another edition
4.0
I've actually only read one Madeleine L'Engle novel (A Severed Wasp) so it might have made more sense to be a bit more familiar with her work before starting this non-fiction work of reflection (I've kind of done things backwards)... But having read about Madeleine's life and faith and the complexities of her writing, I'm keen to read more of her now. I came to this book through author Sarah Arthur whose other works I have enjoyed.
lirazel's review against another edition
3.5
This is pretty surface-level which is why I didn't rate it higher. I have a personal preference for books that dig a little deeper and I set my expectations too high for such short books to meet them. That's my issue, not the author's.
Most of the joy I took from this book was in realizing that so many other people were so influenced by L'Engle's thoughts on faith, art, and life. She was so important to me as a teenager and continues to influence my life in countless small ways (I always say that my love of her writing as a kid was foreshadowing for my growing up to be Episcopalian instead of the evangelical I was raised to be). It's wonderful to know that so many other people were having similar experiences, connecting deeply to L'Engle's writing and benefiting from her expansive view of the universe, her wonder and joy, her belief in creation of art as vocation.
Most of the joy I took from this book was in realizing that so many other people were so influenced by L'Engle's thoughts on faith, art, and life. She was so important to me as a teenager and continues to influence my life in countless small ways (I always say that my love of her writing as a kid was foreshadowing for my growing up to be Episcopalian instead of the evangelical I was raised to be). It's wonderful to know that so many other people were having similar experiences, connecting deeply to L'Engle's writing and benefiting from her expansive view of the universe, her wonder and joy, her belief in creation of art as vocation.
dbtabm's review against another edition
5.0
A beautifully written account of the lasting spiritual impact of L’Engle. A full portrait.