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Becoming Mrs. Lewis : a novel : the…
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Becoming Mrs. Lewis : a novel : the improbable love story of Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis (original 2018; edition 2020)

by Patti Callahan Henry

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9235523,250 (3.94)24
Fiction. Literature. Romance. Historical Fiction. HTML:

Now a USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestseller! Meet the brilliant writer, fiercely independent mother, and passionate woman who captured the heart of C.S. Lewis and inspired the books that still enchant and change us today.

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 professor and the beloved writer of The Chronicles 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, found 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.

Praise for Becoming Mrs. Lewis:

"Becoming Mrs. Lewis deftly explores the life and work of Joy Davidman, a bold and brilliant woman who is long overdue her time in the spotlight. Carefully researched. Beautifully written. Deeply romantic. Fiercely intelligent. It is both a meditation on marriage and a whopping grand adventure. Touching, tender, and triumphant, this is a love story for the ages." ??Ariel Lawhon, New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia

"Patti Callahan Henry breathes wondrous fresh life into one of the greatest literary love stories of all time . . . The result is a deeply moving story about love and loss that is transformative and magical." ??Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan's Tale

"It's novel. And it's a very good one. . . extraordinarily accurate. . . more accurate than most biographical essays that have been written about my mother." ??Douglas Gresham, son of Joy Davidman, wife of C.S. Lewis

This expanded edition includes:

  • Map of Oxford
  • Expanded discussion guide with 20+ questions for book clubs
  • Timeline of Jack's and Joy's Lives
  • Joy's (imagined) letter to Jack
  • 10 Things You May Not Know About Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis's Love Story
  • Behind-the-scenes essay: Ox… (more)
  • Member:libermom
    Title:Becoming Mrs. Lewis : a novel : the improbable love story of Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis
    Authors:Patti Callahan Henry
    Info:Nashville, Tennessee : Thomas Nelson, [2020]
    Collections:Your library
    Rating:
    Tags:Biography

    Work Information

    Becoming Mrs. Lewis: The Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis by Patti Callahan (2018)

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    » See also 24 mentions

    English (54)  Dutch (1)  All languages (55)
    Showing 1-5 of 54 (next | show all)
    I knew some of the story behind this book, the marriage of C. S. Lewis and Joy Davidman. I found the dialogue to be realistic, and I like how the author did so much research, especially by reading letters only recently uncovered. I always appreciate a book that inspires me to do my own research, and this one fit the bill. ( )
      hobbitprincess | Apr 16, 2024 |
    WOW. ( )
      aefsargent | Feb 6, 2024 |
    I really wanted to like this book. Interesting topic, interesting people, etc- but I had to put it down in the end because it was badly written. Confusing location changes, inappropriate references (like a “queen-size bed”), etc that made me doubt the truth of anything that was written.
    Actually came here researching the author because I was finding it so troubling.
    Needs editing, needs fact-checking, and despite my interest in the subject, I just can’t continue. ( )
    1 vote Dabble58 | Nov 11, 2023 |
    4.5 A magical historical fiction! Joy Davidman is a strong woman with a difficult life story. Her unlikely friendship and eventual love affair with C.S. Lewis (Jack) is an extremely special story that immediately pulled me in. This novel is beautifully written and shares a touching love story that I am grateful was shared with the public. ( )
      Bookwoman0212 | Sep 29, 2023 |
    Amazing book. A complicated relationship between literary stars. Joy and Jack. Not sure who will love it but it is amazing ( )
      shazjhb | Jul 16, 2023 |
    Showing 1-5 of 54 (next | show all)
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    I often watched Jack [C.S.L.] write when he believed I was working myself. He wrote with a quill, dipping it slowly into the inkwell and then bringing it back to paper. He said it 'allowed a thought to form between well and paper.' I imagined stories and fantasies unfolding in the slow dance of pen to ink, back to paper and then again to ink.
    I ran my fingers along the rise and fall of his words. The ink, obviously from a blue fountain pen, bled tiny lines from each character into the veins of the cotton paper.
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    Fiction. Literature. Romance. Historical Fiction. HTML:

    Now a USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestseller! Meet the brilliant writer, fiercely independent mother, and passionate woman who captured the heart of C.S. Lewis and inspired the books that still enchant and change us today.

    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 professor and the beloved writer of The Chronicles 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, found 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.

    Praise for Becoming Mrs. Lewis:

    "Becoming Mrs. Lewis deftly explores the life and work of Joy Davidman, a bold and brilliant woman who is long overdue her time in the spotlight. Carefully researched. Beautifully written. Deeply romantic. Fiercely intelligent. It is both a meditation on marriage and a whopping grand adventure. Touching, tender, and triumphant, this is a love story for the ages." ??Ariel Lawhon, New York Times bestselling author of I Was Anastasia

    "Patti Callahan Henry breathes wondrous fresh life into one of the greatest literary love stories of all time . . . The result is a deeply moving story about love and loss that is transformative and magical." ??Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan's Tale

    "It's novel. And it's a very good one. . . extraordinarily accurate. . . more accurate than most biographical essays that have been written about my mother." ??Douglas Gresham, son of Joy Davidman, wife of C.S. Lewis

    This expanded edition includes:

    Map of Oxford Expanded discussion guide with 20+ questions for book clubs Timeline of Jack's and Joy's Lives Joy's (imagined) letter to Jack 10 Things You May Not Know About Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis's Love Story Behind-the-scenes essay: Ox

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