A review by alisonhp
Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber

hopeful reflective medium-paced

3.0

I think I should have enjoyed this book as a person of faith who studied Romantic Literature in Oxford, but instead the storytelling felt hollow. She tells us about her journey to faith, but does not take us into her journey, so instead most of the book was a flowery depiction of a memory — idealizing Oxford, “name dropping” quotes here and there from U2 and literature and turning her time into metaphor. I’m glad she had a powerful experience, but for me the storytelling felt inauthentic especially the way that the characters “speech” at each other. I’m not sure who this book is for, but I guess not for me.