The power of words . . .: Review: Invisible, Part 3

Friday, April 5, 2013

Review: Invisible, Part 3

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them."

Genesis 1:27

"Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering."

- Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine

I love to read from the writings of men and women of faith who have gone before us, so I've been intrigued at how Ginny draws so successfully from both Madame Jeanne Guyon in her second book, Lost and Found, and from Saint Augustine in Invisible. I contacted Ginny and she was gracious to take the time to explain her thoughts . . .

Ginny Yttrup: "I really didn’t like Saint Augustine at first! He seemed like a gluttonous womanizer. But I stumbled upon a quote of his that was so enlightening that it tumbled around in my brain and I couldn’t seem to let it go. The quote is listed, along with two verses, in the beginning of Invisible." (Quoted above)

"I finally picked up his life story—Confessions—and read it. Mind you, this man lived in the fourth century, so I was certain I’d feel no connection to him. But as I read his confession—the sins he struggled with and his transformation through Jesus Christ—I felt like I’d met a soul mate. People are the same through the ages. We are created in the image of God and we live in a fallen world and struggle against our sin nature. We are all the same—uniquely made—but our struggle and, for Christians, our salvation through Christ, is universal. I think if we accepted that fact more readily, we’d see less prejudice in our society."

"Enable me to love you with all my strength

that I may clasp your hand with all my heart."

- Saint Augustine

Ginny: "I suggested the idea of pairing one of the "mystics" with my novels to my agent and my editor before I began writing Lost and Found. I decided I'd do at least three books this way. The third book, Flames, (2/1/14) is paired with Julian of Norwich."

"I've done something a bit different with each one... Madame Jeanne Guyon's life story was the foundation of Lost and Found. I took many elements from Guyon's life and put them into the contemporary setting of Lost and Found."

"With Invisible, I came across the Augustine quote I used in the beginning of the book and fell in love with it! It fit so well with the story I wanted to write. The Augustine quotes and Invisible were symbiotic. Sometimes I'd read a quote and it would direct the chapter I was writing, other times I'd write a chapter and then look for a quote that fit."

"The house of my soul is too small for You to come to it.

May it be enlarged by You. It is in ruins: restore it."

- Saint Augustine

Ginny: "I'm rarely asked about the classics I quote. But every once in awhile, someone will ask what you've asked, or I'll receive an email saying after reading my novel, they've read the classic I quoted. I love that! There is so much to be learned from those who've gone before us."

"Our heart is restless until it rests in you."

- Saint Augustine

"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God,

be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."

1 Timothy 1:17

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Review of Invisible, Part 2: http://bit.ly/10CGhok
Review of Invisible, Part 1: http://bit.ly/XiY5pV

I appreciate Ginny's enthusiasm and the time she took in answering my questions. I highly recommended Invisible for all readers.