Happy Thursday! Today I have a review of an exciting new novel by Patti Callahan featuring the love of author C. S. Lewis’ life!
My Thoughts:
Patti Callahan (Henry) is one of my favorite authors. How do I know this? I own all of her books and a few are “saved” unread for the book apocalypse. You know, I’m well-prepared for that. When I read that she was writing historical fiction for the first time, and that it also involved C.S. Lewis, I was all in.
Joy Davidman is the main character. The book begins with her life as a wife and mother, and I could sense right away that something is not right in her marriage. Her husband is moody and drinks too much, and while there is palpable love between them, there is also a distance, a disconnect.
Joy and her husband are both writers, and after a terrifying experience involving her husband, Joy begins to explore and test her faith. In doing so, she begins writing about faith on behalf of she and her husband in letters of correspondence to C.S. Lewis (Jack). The two begin writing back and forth, exploring and deeply connecting through their words to each other and over their spiritual beliefs.
In a leap of faith, Joy travels to England from America and into the arms of her Jack. I’m in awe of the inspiring love that developed between the two, so remarkable in fact, that Joy is somewhat of a muse for Jack, sparking works that delight us to this day.
While it would be easy to judge Joy for some of her decisions regarding her first marriage, instead I am stirred by her fierce independence and willingness to risk it all for love.
Becoming Mrs. Lewis is not only the love story of Joy and Jack. It’s also their ode to literature. Fans of C.S. Lewis, the historical fiction genre, strong female characters, compelling love stories, and books about books are sure to revel in Becoming Mrs. Lewis.
Not only did Callahan author her first work of historical fiction, she owned it. She was meant to write this genre all along!
Thank you to Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
In a most improbable friendship, she found love. In a world where women were silenced, she found her voice.
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.
Have you read Becoming Mrs. Lewis, or is it on your TBR? Are you a C.S. Lewis fan? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
Lovely review, Jennifer, but I’m not too sure I like the sound of this “book apocalypse”. Oo-er! 😱
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Thanks, Paula! You don’t think we’d be well-prepared?! 😂 (I can’t believe I had an extra letter on the title of my post – 😬!). 🦋
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Now I’ve picked myself up off the floor, taken a few deep breaths into a brown paper bag and thought things over, I agree: you may have a point. I probably have one or two unread books on my shelves. But still… 🤔💙🌺
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I would still be disturbed…and devastated, but I like being well-prepared. I feel “safe.” 😂 I’m glad you do, too! ♥️ 🏖
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Sensible! Incidentally, I didn’t spot your extra letter, so it can’t have been that noticeable! 😃🐈🐾
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LOOKS GOOD JENNIFER AND LOVE THE COVER, CHINA
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Thank you, China! I really like that cover, too! 😊
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Ugh I love C.S Lewis so this is going on my list. ☺️ Thanks for sharing!
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Yay, you’re welcome, LP! I would hoping fans of C.S. Lewis would see this review to learn about this book!
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I’d never heard of this relationship so of course I’m intrigued. Excellent review!
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Thanks, Jonetta! It is such an inspiring story of love! And books!
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Wonderful review. I added to my tbr list. Happy 😊 Thursday,
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Thank you, Virginia! I hope you enjoy this, too, and hope your Thursday was wonderful! 💗 xo
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So happy to hear this was such an outstanding book. I am happy to say I have an ARC of it and now will be, based on your first-rate review, Jennifer, moving it up of my “small” list.
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Thank you, Marialyce! Ohhh, I cannot wait for your thoughts on this beauty! I think you will love it! ♥️
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Love the photo! Is it an ereader or just an ipad? Great review!!
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Thank you so much! ♥️ It’s an iPad!
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❤
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This sounds like a fascinating story – maybe not one for me at the moment but I think I know somebody who would love this so thanks very much.
Lynn 😀
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It was so engaging, Lynn! I hope your friend loves it! Keep me posted if you think of it. 😊
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Oh this sounds good Jen! Wonderful review! Happy Thursday my friend!!💕
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It was so, so good, Sus! Have you read any of her other books? Hope your Thursday has been great! ♥️
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I know I have some of them but not sure what I’ve read. Let me go and check!
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So I own six and have read none! How sad!!😥😥
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That is sad but wonderful, too, because you will LOVE her!
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Lol I will try to get to one soon just for you!💕
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You are buried in books, so that’s a big deal! 👀 ♥️
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Yes, yes I am but soon I will be buried in snow and will get lots of reading done!☃️🤪☃️❄❄
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Oh, please send some this way! I love the white stuff, especially for reading! ❄️ ⛄️ ♥️
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Oh wo, this is an interesting book. 😱
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It was so good, Marie! 💗
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I’m eager to read this! Thanks for a great review!
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Thank you so much, Carol! I hope you get a chance because I’d love to hear what you think!
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I love C.S. Lewis, so I’ll have to add this one too! I remember watching the movie Shadowlands with Anthony Hopkins in it decades ago about their love story and bawling. I’m sure the book will make me do that too. Happy almost Friday! ❤
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I don’t think I’ve seen Shadowlands, or I don’t remember it right now! Now I have to watch it! This book was sooooo good, Stephanie! I think you’ll enjoy reading this perspective on their love story. 💗 Happy almost Friday to you! Xo
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It’s really good! My mom is a huge C.S. Lewis fan and I watched it with her, so it had to come out before 1995. I’m sure I will! I can’t wait to read it. Thanks!! Tomorrow we’re using a microscope to look at hair and water samples, lol! She’s been waiting on Friday all week! The homeschooling life! ❤
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Oh how fun! Enjoy tomorrow! Hmmm…maybe I did see it then because I used to see movies more often in those days! 💗 I’ll still try to watch it again, and then I’ll know!
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Thanks, I will! ❤ You and me both! I can’t remember the last new movie that I saw unless it was a kid’s movie! 😄 Enjoy it if you watch it again (hopefully it’s as good as I remember, lol). Xoxo
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Excellent review as always! BTW, I’ve heard that when the book apocalypse comes, all unread books will spontaneously combust. Better get reading…!! 😉
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Thank you, FF! I thought maybe you would say they would be shipped to Scotland! 😉 😊
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Ooh, now that’s a good idea… 😉
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But I have this strange impression you don’t like adding to your TBR! 😂 ♥️
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😋😂
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Wonderful review Jennifer!! Sounds really good!!!
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Thanks, Lindsay! ♥️ I loved this one! Xo
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Sounds like a great historical fiction! Impressive, seeing that it’s her first 🙂
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It was so good, Jee! I hope she writes another hist fic! ♥️
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Beautiful review! We were talking about this at book chat, I think my mom would love this!💕💕
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Thanks, Berit! I bet she would, too. It’s a wonderful book! ♥️
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This sounds like a really good book! 🙂 Fab review, Jennifer!
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Thanks, Chrissi! I enjoyed the storytelling in this one!
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Hello lovely Jen 😘 First of all, the hoarding for the book apocalypse? I do that too!! Secondly, fantastic review! I love the Chronicles of Narnia so I’m very, very intrigued by this book! 🤔
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I’m glad we’re both prepared, Beth! It’s critical! 😂 And thank you! This was a special read. I came to love C.S. Lewis even more and had no idea about his quite interesting life. ♥️
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I’m going to have to find you in the book apocalypse because I’m afraid I’ve been downsizing out of necessity. Unless there is still electricity, then I’ll be fine. 😉
Historical fiction is one of my preferred genres, and I love finding books that are about literature or writers. Win-win! Great review.
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Thank you, Myndi! I loved this book- it was glorious! It has a strong spiritual tone because the two MCs are religious, but the book is more about how the two fell in love more than anything. You can absolutely come find me in the event of an apocalypse. I think I keep both our communities set in books for some time— or so my husband would probably say! 😉
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