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#hyggehourreadathon #naturalitsy #litsolace
#springhassprung

I put many of my pots out to welcome spring & celebrate Easter, empty of plants, alluding to bountiful blossoms to come. My across the street neighbors garden is blooming with spring, spreading hyacinth‘s aroma when I walk by.Then there is Easter Dinner of leg of lamb, parsley carrots, mixed mushrooms & mashed potatoes. It was yum!
Winding down in bed…Blessings to all!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite authors, so I found this fictionalized account of his relationship & eventual marriage to Joy Davidman to be very interesting and insightful. There also was a lot to say about the difficulties of women balancing everything. There are some things writing-style-wise that I didn‘t love, and the audiobook wasn‘t my favorite, but overall I enjoyed & would recommend this one, especially for Lewis fans.

Audio. I lost focus sometimes in the first half, I was mostly paying attention in the second half, but it didn‘t help the story. With regard to the relationship between Joy and Jack, apparently this was based on real life, but in the story itself, I didn‘t see it. She was head over heels for him, but I didn‘t see that he loved her. All the gushing at the end was eye-rolling and gag-inducing to me. I didn‘t believe it. The religious stuff bored me

This book….I think my favorite part of this entire book is when she has Her come to Jesus moment. It‘s not a fairytale status time in her life and she doesn‘t assume it will now all be easy and amazing from this point on; just amen and amen. this book forever changed my life..

Thanks to @Andrew65 for this great idea! #12BooksOf2021 #1stbookof2021
For #January my favorite is also my favorite for the whole year. A fictionalized account of the woman who married C.S. Lewis. I loved how Patti describes the emotions in this book...I could actually feel Joy's loneliness and heartbreak. An amazing book! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My amazing friend sent me this surprise gift! I‘m so excited to read and enjoy each one! 😃

Knowing nothing about Joy Davidman Lewis or her marriage to CS Lewis, this book was intriguing and I wasn‘t disappointed.

Getting ready to read my next IRL Bookclub pick.
I then plan on doing a little CS Lewis emersion by watching Shadowland, reading The Chronicles of Narnia, and ending by reading the soon to be released Once Upon A Wardrobe
#FriendsWithBooks

I enjoyed getting to know Joy, I actually didn't know much about her going into this story. Her story is powerful and I admire her perseverance in all of her hardships. Parts of her story were hard to read through, but then you would get small moments when you couldn't help but smile. This book gave a vibrant life to her. It was filled with a ton of description that intrigued me. I feel like I have been looking at the world without seeing it.

"Do you ever feel that there is more, that life holds so much more, and somehow we're missing it? I want to be part of the bigger world, make a difference, see it and feel it, engage in it. Don't you feel that longing inside you?"

I am enamored of this woman Joy Davidman whose craft and intelligence won awards for her poetry, sonnets and novels that moved and inspired many including CS Lewis. Her perseverance of life struggles and facing discrimination in a man's literary world are admirable. Her abundant love for her boys and abounding love for"Jack"(Lewis) can't be measured. This novel had a special perk intertwining The Chronicles of Narnia which I must read now!

I liked this fictionalized account of Joy Davidman & C.S. Lewis‘s relationship...but I didn‘t love it. It was a bit slow & repetitive. It definitely lends itself well to a book club discussion, however, & to further (fascinating) research. I didn‘t find Joy to be pushy or unlikeable (a common criticism) — but fierce & admirable. The best written sections for me were about her religious experiences, & the way that she was *always* questioning.

I bailed on this book because it‘s not a book for me. I‘m not saying it‘s not a good book, but for me, reading about someones conversion due to another‘s drinking problems is the exact opposite of my own life. So to me, this is a no.

Great audiobook. It was a little slow in a couple spots but it was well researched and the author‘s depiction of the characters and the way she pieced it all together really brought Joy and “Jack” to life. I was intrigued. Don‘t skip the authors notes at the end. A must read for fans of C.S. Lewis.

I had heard about the book when my mom bought a copy in summer 2019 and when I read it in December, I could see why my mom really liked it. #12booksof2020 Day 11

4.5⭐️ Truly a beautiful book. This was my #bookspin book for July and somehow I read other books. I really enjoyed the book and realized it was a fictional adaptation going in. The story was beautifully told and found the book went by very quickly, as I got easily engrossed in the book. Even though I knew what was going to happen, I was still a big pile of mush at the end.

Points: 15 +1 = 16

A little snack as I read my book.

Can I delete the pages of 2020 and light them on fire?

I quite enjoyed this chapter; probably one of my favourites so far. Remember the book is based on a true story. Am really enjoying it & honestly when I‘m enjoying a book 25% of the way through, there‘s a really good chance I‘m going to really like it.

C. S. Lewis was genius with his words.

I am starting The Perfect Love Song, but I was reading some of the reviews inside, some of which are for Becoming Mrs. Lewis, and ran across this from Booklist, “ ... All fans of women‘s fiction... will appreciate this vibrant and intelligent woman.” Why do we marginalize books about women this way? If this book had been the exact same book but mainly about C.S. Lewis instead of Joy Davidman the review would have read, “All fans of fiction.” 😡

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book will be on my mind for a long time. The writing is probing and emotional, while not overdramatic or sappy. The author does a wonderful job of showing how this love story points unquestionably to the grace and mercy of a loving and personal God. This book is painstakingly researched, beautifully written, and thoughtfully edited. I don‘t normally enjoy love stories, but I loved this one. I recommend this book.

Although hard to choose my favorite Patti Callahan novel, this could be one of the tops! I thoroughly enjoyed the way she approached the long-distance friendship and the popularity of Mr. Lewis. I have long admired C.S. Lewis's writings, and now I feel a closer connection to him.

Loving the epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter taken from Joy‘s poetry!

Another time of waiting while the youngest joins youth group with games, rootbeer floats, & later fireworks. I'm relaxing...out of the way... & already enjoying this story. 🎇🎆

I am hosting a giveaway on Instagram @ reecaspiecesbooks. Stop by and see if you can snatch this up! It is a good one! #giveaway

I think I missed the memo that this book is historical fiction. 😂 Nevertheless, I am four chapters in and loving it!

Enjoying this rainy day by stitching and watching videos of Author events! #AudioStitching #VideoStitching #Stitching

Tomorrow is the last day to enter.

ENTER HERE: https://tinyurl.com/y8p7yjcl

Heartbreakingly beautiful. I fell in love with the writing - the descriptions and Joy‘s inner monologue. It was such a beautiful book, and I felt all of Joys emotions as if they were my own.

This was a wonderful book and it‘s really going to stick with me for a while. Now I need to read more of both of their works!

A celebration of the paperback release.

Best of luck if you enter.

ENTER HERE: https://tinyurl.com/y8p7yjcl

@pattichenry
@wunderbookspr
@harpercollins

Just in time for International Women‘s Day I finished this book. A fictional exploration of the life of poet and novelist Joy Davidman, and her relationship with CS Lewis. A passionate, fiercely intelligent woman living in a time that often punished those attributes in women. The fictional voices didn‘t always ring true but I plan on reading more of her work and it has inspired me to attempt the sonnet form when I have a little breathing room.

I thought this was a great book 👍🏻 I haven‘t read any of C.S. Lewis‘ work yet, but I‘m intrigued now. This one is definitely worth reading!!

Thanks for this fun giveaway @BookNAround #lastfirst ❤️

Last read of 2019: “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek”
First read of 2020: “Becoming Mrs. Lewis”

I started my first read of 2020 today (‘Becoming Mrs. Lewis‘) 🎉🎉🎉 Hubby is watching his new favorite show ‘The Witcher‘. Not a shabby New Year‘s Day 😃

This book was an intellectual feast for the soul. Spoiler alert: What knocked this book down a star for me was the final chapter before the epilogue. The book wrestled with the character's idols about love and men. She comes across as a sex-crazed woman. She finally puts her dependence on God, but the book takes it back in the end by focusing on sex as the culmination of her relationship with Lewis. This damaged the underlying thesis of the book.

4⭐
And excellent story about how Joy Davidman and CS Lewis meet and marry. The author did a lot of research, so even though this is fiction, there is a lot of fact in the tale.

I was interested in reading this book because I am a fan of C.S. Lewis. I hadn‘t heard of Joy Davidman before, so I was curious to learn more about her.

This book was incredible. It beautifully depicted the relationship between Lewis and Davidman. Their romance was unconventional but epic. The love they had for one another is truly remarkable.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2019/09/18/review-becoming-mrs-lewis/

This book was written so well. Callahan allowed you to feel the pain and love that Joy had felt throughout her life. The only thing I wish, was I wish I had knee more about Joy Lewis. The love that her and C.S. Lewis had was so great. They loved each other through all and more so.

Before I joined Litsy, I didn't have a proper bookshelf. I sure appreciate the community here. The books on the top shelf are the ones that I want to read and of course order don't include this on my Kindle app. I'm never bored!

Turned in my summer reading program sheet for a mug & 2 coupons @ Baker Book House. Picked up this book with $10 in gift certificates that I earned last weekend with the help of a friend. #BookmarkSwap mail courtesy of @jessinikkip & @EH2018 #BecomingMrsLewis #PattiCallahan #ThomasNelson

Snuggling up with this read today 👠🧣💃❤️ I would definitely recommend this if you are a fan of C.S Lewis (and maybe secretly wanted to be his pen pal in the 50‘s).
#penpals 🖊

What an enchanting read! Such great story telling, all based on research. It‘s a peak into the life of C.S. LEWIS and his inspiration for his books.

“And isn‘t it odd... how he states that misery feels much the same as joy at first feels?”

Great writing. Loved all the quotes to set the tone at the beginning of each chapter. Loved getting to learn about Joy and in turn learn more about CS Lewis from it. However, first half was painfully slow 😬

This book explores the life of a courageous woman, Joy Davidman, who perseveres through her struggles, lets faith change her life, and finds a friendship and love she never expected. It's a beautifully told story, and I loved it and highly recommend it to fans of C.S. Lewis, historical fiction, and ultimately, romance.

#Excerpt and & #giveaway on the blog today. http://bit.ly/2UB9e6N

This is just what I was needing. I‘ve read many of Lewis‘ books and it‘s really specialty hear about Joys life and how their friendship blossomed into love. Also, seeing Lewis as a real person who knew him, sees him is refreshing.