Welcome to the Blog Tour for Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan with JustRead Publicity Tours! We continue the Becoming Mrs. Lewis celebration on social media starting March 14.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Becoming Mrs. Lewis
Author: Patti Callahan
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: October 2, 2018
From New York Times bestselling author Patti Callahan comes an exquisite novel of Joy Davidman, the woman C. S. Lewis called “my whole world.”
When poet and writer Joy Davidman began writing letters to C. S. Lewis—known as Jack—she was looking for spiritual answers, not love. Love, after all, wasn’t holding together her crumbling marriage. Everything about New Yorker Joy seemed ill-matched for an Oxford don and the beloved writer of Narnia, yet their minds bonded over their letters. Embarking on the adventure of her life, Joy traveled from America to England and back again, facing heartbreak and poverty, discovering friendship and faith, and against all odds, finding a love that even the threat of death couldn’t destroy.
In this masterful exploration of one of the greatest love stories of modern times, we meet a brilliant writer, a fiercely independent mother, and a passionate woman who changed the life of this respected author and inspired books that still enchant us and change us. Joy lived at a time when women weren’t meant to have a voice—and yet her love for Jack gave them both voices they didn’t know they had.
At once a fascinating historical novel and a glimpse into a writer’s life, Becoming Mrs. Lewis is above all a love story—a love of literature and ideas and a love between a husband and wife that, in the end, was not impossible at all.
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Christian Book | iTunes
MY THOUGHTS
Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan is a compelling book, one that I learned a lot from and greatly enjoyed in the process. I have long admired C. S. Lewis – his conversion, creative writing, and the intellect with which he defends the faith – but knew next to nothing about him personally, other than that he and Joy Davidman shared a deep love and that A Grief Observed was written after her death. Becoming Mrs. Lewis fleshes out these two people in a realistic and honest way that I found refreshing.
A large part of this story rests on the foundation of vast correspondence between Lewis and Davidman, of which none is actually available today. But in drawing from many other sources, the author has done an incredible job in piecing together what their lives might have been like. This story is historical fiction, yet often has the feel of a memoir. Callahan has beautifully captured the feel of the times in which they lived, and I loved that the characters’ flaws and failings were not glossed over. In getting to know Joy Davidman, I also came to know C. S. Lewis, the man (Jack). Callahan mentions some historical events along the way, giving a great sense of place and time. One of my favorite parts was a glimpse into the inspiration and background behind the writing of some of Lewis’s books, such as Screwtape Letters and the Wormwood character, which came out of World War II.
Joy, while trying to make a go of a difficult
marriage, considered herself an atheist when God entered her life. Her story is
one of trust, surrender, and transformation – but often taking a step or two
backward in failure – and that reflects the human nature that I experience
personally.
Becoming Mrs. Lewis might not appeal to every reader of Christian fiction, for in its openness and honesty of this couple’s lives, you will find the mention of abusive behavior, affairs, and alcohol, both social and abusive. Personally, I enjoyed Callahan’s writing style and creativity in bringing these two people to life. Jack and Joy brought out the best in each other and had a positive influence on each other’s writing, allowing me to read Lewis’s works with fresh eyes.
Recommended.
I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
MY THOUGHTS
Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan is a compelling book, one that I learned a lot from and greatly enjoyed in the process. I have long admired C. S. Lewis – his conversion, creative writing, and the intellect with which he defends the faith – but knew next to nothing about him personally, other than that he and Joy Davidman shared a deep love and that A Grief Observed was written after her death. Becoming Mrs. Lewis fleshes out these two people in a realistic and honest way that I found refreshing.
A large part of this story rests on the foundation of vast correspondence between Lewis and Davidman, of which none is actually available today. But in drawing from many other sources, the author has done an incredible job in piecing together what their lives might have been like. This story is historical fiction, yet often has the feel of a memoir. Callahan has beautifully captured the feel of the times in which they lived, and I loved that the characters’ flaws and failings were not glossed over. In getting to know Joy Davidman, I also came to know C. S. Lewis, the man (Jack). Callahan mentions some historical events along the way, giving a great sense of place and time. One of my favorite parts was a glimpse into the inspiration and background behind the writing of some of Lewis’s books, such as Screwtape Letters and the Wormwood character, which came out of World War II.
In
a crack of my soul, during the untethered fear while calling
for help, the sneaky Lion saw his chance, and God came in;
he entered the fissures of my heart as if he’d been
waiting a long time to find an opening.
for help, the sneaky Lion saw his chance, and God came in;
he entered the fissures of my heart as if he’d been
waiting a long time to find an opening.
-Joy Davidman
Becoming Mrs. Lewis might not appeal to every reader of Christian fiction, for in its openness and honesty of this couple’s lives, you will find the mention of abusive behavior, affairs, and alcohol, both social and abusive. Personally, I enjoyed Callahan’s writing style and creativity in bringing these two people to life. Jack and Joy brought out the best in each other and had a positive influence on each other’s writing, allowing me to read Lewis’s works with fresh eyes.
Recommended.
I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Patti Callahan (who also writes as Patti Callahan Henry) is a New York Times bestselling author. Patti was a finalist in the Townsend Prize for Fiction, has been an Indie Next Pick, twice an OKRA pick, and a multiple nominee for the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance (SIBA) Novel of the Year. Her work has also been included in short story collections, anthologies, magazines, and blogs. Patti attended Auburn University for her undergraduate work and Georgia State University for her graduate degree. Once a Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist, she now writes full time. The mother of three children, she lives in both Mountain Brook, Alabama, and Bluffton, South Carolina, with her husband.
CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR: website | facebook | twitter | instagram
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(2) winners will each win a hardcover release copy of Becoming Mrs. Lewis.
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I've loved the C. S. Lewis works that I've read and enjoyed Shadowlands about his relationship with Joy Davidman. I'm looking forward to reading this new work by an author new to me.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to read this book, Susie. It's different, probably not for everybody, but I really liked it. Callahan has written several books in the general market. Now I'm eager to read more of both her and C. S. Lewis.
DeleteI would love to read this book. Thanks so much for the chance to win.
ReplyDeletefaithdcreech at gmail dot com
Thank you for the review! This book sounds so good and I cannot wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteBecoming Mrs. Lewis is our book club selection this fall. I would love to win a copy.
ReplyDeleteGreat cover and a very interesting sounding book. And who does not love a great love story and strong outgoing woman!
ReplyDeleteI'm really excited to read this book. I love reading about love stories, bad or good. Thank you for being part of the tour and the opportunity win it.
ReplyDeleteCarol Luciano
Lucky4750 at aol dot com