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A review by ehays84
Godric by Frederick Buechner
5.0
What a book! It is fairly rare for me to have my expectations up about a book, and then for them to exceed my expectations. This book blew me away in so many ways. Put it right at the top of your list.
It is based on the true account of the 11th and 12th century English saint Godric, who lived his early life as a merchant, and then gave all of his money away and became a hermit. The author really did his research to get the portrayal of this man and this historical time period right. Yes, he takes some liberties, but we don't know all of the details of Godric's life anyway, and liberties are allowed in the hagiographic tradition.
I could just go on about this book. The narrator's voice is unique because it is told through the meandering mind of a 100 year old saint. We have both his unique wisdom gained through his life, but also the physical limitations of one so beaten down by life and age. We also learn the story through the lens of a man committed to record the life story of Godric, so there is yet another lens to consider the man and saints/hagiography in general.
The book is also quite concise, so every word is well chosen.
There is exquisite beauty amid pain. Sin is acknowledged in all of its corrupting evil, but humanity is also sanctified because of the knowledge that Christ became human and entered into the struggles we face in this world. There is deep love for family as well as bitterness and confusion and rejection from those we love most. The characters are all multi-faceted and provide a real portrayal of what it means to be human.
Overall, this book confirmed my growing belief that saints are most characterized by their humility. We read it in the Bible with figures like David and Paul and here it from all those that we consider great saints, that they are the chiefs of sinners and that without the grace of God, they would be lost. This does not mean that these figures can't also be blessed with divine grace in a unique way. And this combination is a great paradox of the faith.
It is based on the true account of the 11th and 12th century English saint Godric, who lived his early life as a merchant, and then gave all of his money away and became a hermit. The author really did his research to get the portrayal of this man and this historical time period right. Yes, he takes some liberties, but we don't know all of the details of Godric's life anyway, and liberties are allowed in the hagiographic tradition.
I could just go on about this book. The narrator's voice is unique because it is told through the meandering mind of a 100 year old saint. We have both his unique wisdom gained through his life, but also the physical limitations of one so beaten down by life and age. We also learn the story through the lens of a man committed to record the life story of Godric, so there is yet another lens to consider the man and saints/hagiography in general.
The book is also quite concise, so every word is well chosen.
There is exquisite beauty amid pain. Sin is acknowledged in all of its corrupting evil, but humanity is also sanctified because of the knowledge that Christ became human and entered into the struggles we face in this world. There is deep love for family as well as bitterness and confusion and rejection from those we love most. The characters are all multi-faceted and provide a real portrayal of what it means to be human.
Overall, this book confirmed my growing belief that saints are most characterized by their humility. We read it in the Bible with figures like David and Paul and here it from all those that we consider great saints, that they are the chiefs of sinners and that without the grace of God, they would be lost. This does not mean that these figures can't also be blessed with divine grace in a unique way. And this combination is a great paradox of the faith.