This
book, it seems to me, must be a cathartic journey for Buechner,
reminiscing about so many events in his past. He tells the story of
his father's suicide (again) as well as that of meeting the priest
wearing black gaiters (again) and that of his brother crying in
Bermuda (again and again) and his mother's comments about the
gardener passing by (again). He spends pages describing books in his
Magic Kingdom, as he calls his office/library.
Included,
from time to time, is an insight about remembering and perhaps
another about healing. We all experience pain, he writes, and handle
it in ways that are not good. Buechner wants us to be good stewards
of our pain. He writes of “the importance of being able to talk and
live out of your pain … of pain becoming a treasure...” (32)
These are good insights but his rambling stories, memories of events
from his past, greatly over shadow and obscure them.
I
am not sure there is much of value in this book for evangelical
Christians. When writing about what happens after you die, for
example, Buechner suggests “you are given back your life again...”
He had three reasons for believing it. First, if he were God that's
what he'd do. Second, he had a hunch it was true. Third, because
Jesus said we aren't dead forever, referencing what Jesus said to the
thief on the cross. (76-77) Buechner made no mention of Paul and his
New Testament insights into the life after this one.
I
have just read the two latest books by Buechner in the past few days.
I don't think I'll read another one by him. There was too much
repetition of stories. I was not surprised to find that the footnotes
indicated much of this book came from earlier ones by him. Also, many
of the stories didn't appear to have much to do with the theme of the
book. It seems Buechner is still trying to make sense of his father's
suicide, some 80 years ago, and everything else that has happened in
his life.
Perhaps
there is more to Buechner's faith experience than he is willing to
tell. Near the end of this book he says he fears that if he writes
too much about how he has experienced holiness, “then I risk being
written off as some sort of embarrassment by most of the people I
know and like.” (116)
My
rating: 3/5 stars.
Frederick
Buechner is the author of more than thirty books. A finalist for the
Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, he has been awarded
honorary degrees from several institutions. You can find out more at
http://www.frederickbuechner.com/.
Zondervan,
144 pages.
I
received a complimentary copy of this book through Handlebar. My
comments are an independent and honest review.
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