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A review by caitlin_89
Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber
5.0
Five stars for readability. I thought this memoir was excellently crafted. Weber has a clear knack for storytelling and a passionate engagement with life and its questions.
Of course, I read other reviews before writing mine, which I've got to stop doing, and in retrospect the memoir does seem a bit rode colored. She speaks of conversion and Christianity being hard and full of doubts and trials, which it is, but these all seem kind of swept under the rug by the Great Love story. Which isn't necessarily bad. I enjoyed the whole book. Just in hindsight, a few grittier passages might have lent this book a bit of added depth.
Regardless, I'm impressed with her command of the Romantics and her ability to weave a narrative with symbols and engaging structure. Very good.
Of course, I read other reviews before writing mine, which I've got to stop doing, and in retrospect the memoir does seem a bit rode colored. She speaks of conversion and Christianity being hard and full of doubts and trials, which it is, but these all seem kind of swept under the rug by the Great Love story. Which isn't necessarily bad. I enjoyed the whole book. Just in hindsight, a few grittier passages might have lent this book a bit of added depth.
Regardless, I'm impressed with her command of the Romantics and her ability to weave a narrative with symbols and engaging structure. Very good.