"From the very beginning it was the Great Lion that brought us together". The great lion of whom his majestic mane fell across their lives was Aslan from the tales of Narnia who brought together the famous Oxford don, theologian and writer C.S Lewis and the American poet and writer Joy Davidson who began a written correspondence to him from New York.
At times reading this marvellous book I forgot it was a work of fiction and believed it was Joy's voice and words on the page. Callahan has done her research thoroughly and of course students who have studied particularly the life of Lewis, will know of many sources that reveal their intense relationship.
Clive Staples Lewis was nearing 60 years of age when the young Joy began writing to him in 1946, inspired by his work and by discussions with a friend Professor Walsh who knew Lewis in Oxford. "Write to Mr Lewis.... he's an avid letter writer and loves debate". Then two years later she receives a reply from Jack (as he is known to her and other friends) and from then on they become regular pen pals at a time when the anticipation of a crisp sealed envelope (especially airmail as this would have been) brought anticipation to Joy and an outlet for discussion and debate -especially about God and religion) for Jack.
Joy was at the time married to writer William (Bill) Lindsay Gresham, but he was struggling with his work and seeking solace in drink and other women. I'm not sure if we know the real truth of any marriage but Joy seemed to have a very tough time living with him and hints are given of domestic violence and the fear her two young sons had of their father. Joy too had a turbulent early childhood with a father that never seemed proud of his daughter and a mother more interested in appearances than the books into which Joy would seek happiness.
As the letters increase it is clear Joy is channelling her fears, isolation and need for guidance for her work (particularly her poetry which gained her her first fame) into the older man but Lewis too wants to expand all thoughts "There's no subject off limits."
The books chapters begin with Joy's sonnets which remained after her death (the letters it seems were destroyed) and we do get the overall sense of how women were treated in the 1950s - even those like Joy with a career and some fame who it seemed needed to take second place to their husband at home.
With her husband's continued infidelity and her illness (thyroid problems at the time) things come to a head in the marriage. In Oxford Jack wants to help, so when Joy's cousin Renee comes to stay it seems it is possible for Joy to travel to England for recovery, research on a book on Charles II and to finally meet Jack.
That she chose to leave her two sons perhaps is the weak link in the story and this will be used later it seems to prove her instability but taking the leap Joy comes to England in the summer of 1942.
There are amazing scenes with Jack and his brother Warren in their home The Kilns and within the colleges of Oxford's 'dreaming spires' and of course in meeting J.R.R Tolkein at the famous 'Eagle and Child' pub (well worth a visit!) where the met as The Inklings planning their literary masterpieces. Tollers (as Tolkein was known to Jack) is a gruff old soul who one can hardly believe wrote of those magical hobbits in The Lord of the Rings.
Spiritual and marital dilemmas progress their relationship and faith is an integral part of their lives as Joy becomes not only a long distance friend but increasingly a closer work and emotional prop to Lewis.
It's wonderful to enter a novel knowing little about the lives of the real characters so even though this is fiction I know I shall be doing more to read about both their lives as I already feel part of their world from the wonderful writing by Callahan.
Fans of literature will be fascinated but readers of a good old fashioned (pre email thank goodness!) love story will be entranced by this book.

I have to say that this book took me completely by surprise. Honestly, I think sometimes when I approach a book about real people, in this case C.S.Lewis and Joy Davidman, I cannot help but ask myself "So which one is going to be the jerk?" But Patti Callahan unfolds the story of the meeting of the minds as much as much as that of the heart. People, this book is #relationshipgoals, the type our mothers and fathers hope we will encounter as we travel the road of love. Seventeen years in age difference, "Jack" and Joy correspond first to discuss their own search for a relationship with religion, which eventually leads to a relationship based on mutual respect and friendship that as the years go by does lead to more. Upon completion and this might seem a bit silly, but Becoming Mrs Lewis is definitely a book that made me feel like for just a few hours, Joy and C.S. Lewis once more walked the earth. Their story lands this book safely in my favorites of 2018.

After reading C.S. Lewis’ wonderful Surprised by Joy and reading many of his other works, I was interested in finding out more from Joy Davidman’s point of view. I’ve struggled to read and finish this book. I was excited about it in the beginning but the more I read, the more I realized how fictionalized the account really seems to be. Everything I’ve ever read about C.S. Lewis and his Christian beliefs seemed to be in conflict with much of the personality he’s portrayed as having in this book. As for the way he described Joy in his writings and her fictional character in this book - they seem worlds apart. Perhaps I’m just not ready to have Christian historical characters crossed over with fictional characters in telling their stories. I was provided an ARC of this book by the Publisher and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

Vivid, compelling, and immersive!

Becoming Mrs. Lewis is an intriguing interpretation about the life of Joy Davidman, the American writer and poet who through a shared conviction of Christianity and love of writing became a close confidant, friend, and wife of the famous fantasy writer, C.S. Lewis until her untimely death from breast cancer in 1960.

It is a story about familial responsibilities, strength, friendship, kindness, encouragement, support, passion, desire, loss, and love.

Davidman was a strong, intelligent, forthright woman who not only found peace, contentment, and fulfillment through Christianity in midlife but also found her true self.

The prose is clear and precise. And the plot takes us back to the late 1940s to the early 1960s, from Ossining, NY to Oxford, England and tells the story of a life filled with loneliness, abuse, poverty, grace, riches, success, motherhood, and romance.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis is a well written, captivating, rich story by Callahan that does a remarkable job of highlighting her incredible knowledge and research into this complex, historical figure who is often unknown, forgotten or overlooked.

BECOMING MRS. LEWIS by Patti Callahan is a well-researched, historical, fictionalised story of Joy Davidman and the relationship that develops between her and C.S. Lewis.

What started as a quest for spiritual guidance after a moment of enlightenment, soon becomes more important and more emotional as Joy finds a connection with Jack, aka C.S. Lewis. Opposites in so many ways, this is the story of how love can overcome so many obstacles such as poverty and heartbreak, to inspire books that still enchant us to this day.
As we walk alongside Joy and all that is happening in her life we see a strong spirit, a talented writer and a determined woman that wanted to follow her own path.

To be honest I didn't really know much about Mrs. Lewis before reading this book and this book really brings their complicated story to light in such an elegant and fascinating way that I struggled to put this book down.

​BECOMING MRS. LEWIS by Patti Callahan is a book about ideas, about finding your place and voice in this world, about feeling connected and complete, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Definitely a must-read for historical fiction fans.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis is a story of Joy Davidman's journey through her life as she battles with a loveless marriage, where she stands with God and walking and learning the Christian worldview. Letters were written between Joy and Jack (C.S. Lewis) as they learn from each other and what God has in store for them.
Fantastic writing and a compelling story of how people struggle but learn to rise above those struggles and move forward.

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.

I love stories about literary figures, and this is about a woman who influenced one of the greats. A great fall read.

I was looking forward to reading Becoming Mrs Lewis by Patti Callahan after reading the blurb shortly before compiling my 29 Great Books to Look Out For Autumn 2018. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Joy Davidman began writing to C.S. Lewis during a dark period in her life when she was looking for spiritual guidance and friendship.

She was struggling to write her poetry whilst looking after her children and trying to maintain a relationship with her alcoholic husband. During this time, she found God and began her search on all things spiritual.

One day she stumbled on an article about C. S. Lewis and his beliefs and began to write letters to him.

At some point during their correspondence Joy travelled to meet C.S. Lewis or ‘Jack’ as he was known to her. Then after some time their friendship grew into something more and led to him eventually calling her ‘his whole world.’

Patti Callahan has a beautiful writing style which made it a pleasure to read and I would still consider reading one of her other books but this one wasn’t entirely my cup of tea. However, it wasn’t through any fault of the author as the main thing I disliked about this book was the excessive talk about Christianity in the letters between the couple.

I knew nothing about their relationship prior to starting Becoming Mrs Lewis, and I knew nothing about C.S. Lewis himself apart from knowing he had written the Narnia books. If I had known more about either half of the couple I may have realised that their might have been a lot of theological discussion in the portrayal of the letters between the two and I might not have chosen to read it.

However, I did enjoy the rest of the book and I felt the author did a very good job of explaining what life was like for Joy whilst living with her alcoholic husband.

A particular favourite of mine in the book was the author’s description of the lions at the zoo in the Bronx.

“They indulged me with a return gaze their warm weight, pressed into my palm, and I knew that capture had damaged their souls.”

One other thing I liked about Becoming Mrs Lewis was the way in which the author was able to place their relationship within the context of the time they were together. For example, the way Joy had to put her writing on hold to look after her children and house whilst her husband was able to write freely whenever he chose.

Becoming Mrs Lewis may not have been completely the book for me but I would recommend it to those who like fiction about literary figures and well-written literature in general.

Reviewing for committee work, but I was blown away by this look into an individual I had thought was boring and pedantic.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan is a wonderful work of historical fiction. The premise of the book is the main female protagonist, Joy Davidman ultimately becomes the love of C.S. Lewis’ life. Having read all of C.S. Lewis’ books I was more than familiar with his writing.( i.e. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe). However, I knew nothing about C.S. Lewis’ love life before reading this wonderful novel. Ms. Callahan’s writing is amazing. The author brings this unlikely romance between novelist Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis to life.

The characters had a wonderful earthy depth and are so humanly relatable and real. I kept turning the page because I could not put the book down. Ms. Callahan gives the reader a front row seat to see into the approximately fifteen year relationship between the protagonists. Each chapter made me want to know more about them. Joy Davidman is the woman who C.S. Lewis decries: “She is my whole world”.

This book is not an easy read. It's is literature in the full sense of the word and that takes time to digest. There were times that the book was so captivating beautiful in it’s language that I found myself going back to reread portions so they could seep into my mind and soul. The entire book is so well-structured and exquisitely planned to the last detail. This like other great literature delves into deep themes and thorough characterization drive the novel to it’s heartbreaking completion. Told in the first-person, the narrative feels so intimate, you actually forget you're reading historical fiction and not a memoir.

Having majored in English Literature in college for a BA and later on for an MA, this book harkens back to the best of the best. Ms. Callahan I congratulate you on an amazing piece of literature. Your book is truly a work of art! I will be looking forward to more of your work.

I would like to thank Patti Callahan, the Publisher Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The very essence of the extraordinary Joy Davidman (Gresham) (Lewis) has been beautifully captured by this author, Patti Callahan. Joy Davidman was a high achiever even with acute illnesses suffered as a child. The author refers to the continuation of health problems in the book and it is from this perhaps that the fantasies and religious beliefs of C S Lewis had such an appeal to this woman. There is an underlying sentiment captured by the author that Joy Davidman appears not to be the style of female her mother wanted, not pretty enough, spoke loudly, over confident and bookish but perhaps the mother was jealous of her daughter’s high intellect. First husband Bill is a put-downer as well, even with his own successful writings he is obviously jealous of his wife and so to extinguish any belief of self he criticises her lack of housekeeping and mothering skills, odd thinking after all she is an academic why would he think she would be anything else after marrying. He is an alcoholic probably as a result of PTSD, and a womaniser for which Joy is aware of. With all this the couple follow a Christian belief but seem to have little understanding of the essence of this belief. The reader will have the sense that Joy Davidman is drowning, her strong personality and resilience begin to fail her. Jewish, then an atheist and then a Christian, looking for a spiritual meaning. It’s no wonder that when she starts to correspond with and then meets C S Lewis after travelling to England she becomes obsessed with this man. She is obsessed with all things English, doesn’t seem to see the grey and wet days, fog and smog as well as the war time destruction of the country. Many at ‘Oxford” would not have been impressed with this American woman, her speech pattern, accent, her loudness and probably her pushiness would grate on their acute snobbishness and self perceived refinement. However possibly due to the war the general community that Joy is introduced to extends a hand of real friendship and assistance. Her determination returns to her in England even though the author refers to the constant lack of financial resources. To leave one’s children in the care of an alcoholic husband and live-in female relative shows that there is a naivety and borderline narcissism on Davidman’s behalf. On returning to the United States Joy makes plans to separate from her husband and to take the two boys back to England. Her obsession/love for C S Lewis is not reciprocated until end of life. Lewis’s experiences with a Jane Moore are only briefly acknowledged in the book and not pursued by Joy as is the obvious too deep attachment Lewis had with his mother. Of course being an Anglican where divorce is not recognised at this time is a stumbling block for Lewis also a physical sexual involvement early in the peace would have changed the entire relationship. The fondness towards Joy from Lewis appears to be more brotherly until Joy’s illness late in the book where Lewis aware that he is about to lose another woman close to him realises his own real love for Joy.

Patti Callahan writes about the relationship between Joy Davidson and C S Lewis. Wonderful, well written love story that is well worth reading.

I really enjoyed this book. The writing was so well done that I would get lost in the story and had a hard time putting this book down. I appreciated the research that went into writing this book. It definitely inspired me to learn more about the lives of CS Lewis and his wife Joy.

This story has a slow beginning and I wasn’t sure where it was headed. I had no knowledge of Joy Davidman and knew very little of C.S. Lewis’s personal life. The author took her time in having you get to know Joy, her situation, her heart, her troubled marriage, children and her mind as she seeks God and His ways with all her might.

After Joy has an encounter with God and shares it with her husband I couldn’t put the book down. This story gets into your heart and camps out there for a while as I felt for these flawed people and watched them answer God’s call. It made me reflect and changed my perspective on a few things as this author respectively shares about affairs, drinking, relationships and walking out what God says we are.

Part One- takes place in America 1927 covers Joy’s childhood and marriage to Bill Gresham a writer, atheist, alcoholic and womanizer. Each chapter begins with a sentence from Joy and/or Jack’s writings. The first is, “You would not have called to me unless I had been calling to you.” Aslan, The Silver Chair, C.S. Lewis.

Joy and Bill start their research, reading philosophy books, religious texts and pamphlets. They both didn’t know how to make since of it all. That’s when a friend suggested they contact C.S. Lewis. They should ask him their questions about God since Mr. Lewis was an atheist and then found God. Joy wrote a letter and C.S. Lewis replied. They became pen pals.

Part two Joy heads to England 1953 to stay with friends. After a month or so in England she meets C.S. Lewis and friends.

…The three of us (the Lewis brothers and Joy) talked about our favorite books, what had influenced our childhoods and our minds, and most importantly what had ignited our imaginations. Our imaginations. Our voices grew quiet as we drew closer and closer to each other.”

Part three takes place in America during Jan 1953 – Nov. 1953
I enjoyed how the author filled the reader in on historical world events taking place in England and America, so they could get a sense of what was happening in that time periods.

Part four was back to England 1953 -1960.
Joy accepts a copy of Mere Christianity from C.S. Lewis. “My eyes flashed with tears and I hoped he didn’t notice. “This book changed my life, “ I told Jack.

“No. God changed your life. My book just jolly well appeared at the right time.”

This was a heart-felt compelling story I couldn’t stop thinking about. I enjoyed that the author was transparent about Joy’s life and loves. Her battle to stay married with an alcoholic unfaithful man, who she started on this faith journey with and he fell away.

I enjoyed what the author shared in her note to readers. “As with any life, there are discrepancies within the many stories that have been written about both Jack and Joy; there are myths and assumptions that have been told and retold. I did my best to gather all the information, compare it, and unravel it to tell a story that relates an emotional truth. This novel was written with the back bone of research and the work of those who have come before me, yet in fiction, imagination and inspiration must fill the gaps. I have attempted to capture Joy’s courage and fierce determination, as well as tap into the landscape of her heart.”

The author brilliantly interlaced her research, the writings of both Joy and Jack Lewis and their faith journey experiences into this novel. She showed God's love is limitless and powerful and unrelenting. He will never abandon us even when it may seem that way with certain trials Jack and Joy endured.

As I read the last few chapters tears filled my eyes as I felt Joy and Jack’s pain and rejoiced with them in the precious gift of unconditional love and time. What words do I use to describe this beautiful novel and the powerful message inside? I don’t think I can do an acquit job. It’s something you have to experience.

Joy says, “I hadn’t known that love would arrive in the most unlikely of places…I hadn’t known that love could not be earned or bought or manipulated; it was just this – complete peace in the other’s presence. All the years wasted believing that love meant owning or possessing, and now the greatest love had arrived in my greatest weakness. In my supreme defeat came my grandest victory. God’s paradoxes had no end.”

I enjoyed reading how Joy knew C.S. Lewis as mentor, best friend, and then as husband and lover. This story is rich with so much to talk about. I highly recommend it for your reading pleasure and/or for your next book club pick. I’m on a mission now to check out these authors books.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher/NetGalley.. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine https://www.bookfun.org/page/past-issues-book-fun-mag
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‘The pair of Barbary lions ambled forward, placing their great paws on the earth, muscles dangerous and rippling beneath their fur as they approached the bars. A great grace surrounded them, as if they had come to understand their fate and accept it with roaring dignity. Their manes were deep and tangled as a forest. I fell into the endless universe of their large amber eyes as they allowed, even invited, me to reach through the iron and wind my fingers into their fur. They’d been tamed beyond their wild nature, and I felt a kinship with them that caused a trembling in my chest.
They indulged me with a return gaze, their warm weight pressed into my palm, and I knew that capture had damaged their souls.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered every time. “We were meant to be free.”’

This beautiful scene appears at the end of the prologue of this novel. When I read it, I just felt a shiver, this welling of something inside me that made me feel like I was about to read something very special. This anticipation was not left dangling in the wind. Becoming Mrs. Lewis is an absolutely glorious novel. I truly loved it so much. It made me smile so often, it made me weep until my eyes couldn’t see the page any longer. It has an old world feel to it, the type of novel that is not rushed, it allows you to rest in the moments and truly feel them. The writing is exquisite and the character development extensive. It’s a completely immersive experience.

‘Desperation fuels one to believe idiocy is insight.’

This is Joy’s story. As we travel through the years with her, from that first letter she sends to C.S. Lewis seeking his advice, right through to the end of her life when she is his wife, we see the many faces of Joy: wife, mother, friend, daughter, cousin, sister in law, writer, and woman. She was loved by many, loathed by some, and through it all she was incredibly authentic and brilliantly talented. I had not even heard of her before reading this novel and now I want to keep reading about her, learn everything there is to know, experience her writing and ponder on the woman she was; incredibly brave and smart, loving and honourable, and always true to herself.

‘When I finished, my heart stretched as if waking from a long and lazy slumber, and a secret hope fell over me.’

Layered in with Joy’s story is something that will strike a chord with any woman who is juggling the various roles we take on in life. The author examines the trickiness of balancing a creative career with domestic duties, being a mother as well as a wife, the poverty women can face when getting divorced, and the struggles to be heard and taken seriously when your health is suffering; all universal themes that transcend the years and are so easily recognisable as issues women continue to grapple with today. I could relate to so much of Joy’s life, her introspection mirrored some of my own and I enjoyed how the author really dug into these themes in an exploratory fashion, not only with regards to Joy, but with the other women that featured as well.

‘There must be another way to live a woman's life – make it our own. I want to find out who I am beyond all these expectations that fold us into a neat box. I want to unfold.’

Becoming Mrs. Lewis is a novel that quietly unfolds. It’s a real character study, not only of Joy, but also of those who are in her life. We really get to know the people in this story. It’s filled with literary conversations between writers, intellectual meeting of the minds between colleagues, inspirational brainstorming sessions between Joy, Jack (C.S. Lewis) and Warnie (Jack’s brother). There is a lot of reflection on writing as a craft as well falling deep into individual pieces of writing and what inspired them and how they were then honed to be their very best. And of course, there is a lot about Narnia. It’s so wonderful, later in the novel, to read those scenes where Joy is reading unpublished manuscripts of The Chronicles of Narnia to her sons at bedtime. One of the Narnia novels was dedicated to the boys by Jack, and it was lovely to find out in the epilogue that one of Joy’s sons, Douglas, ended up producing the Narnia films in adulthood. This really is a novel for people who love literature, who want to know more about writers and of course for anyone who loves the works of C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman. I adored the arrangement of the novel. It’s broken into parts, and each part is prefaced by a line from The Chronicles of Narnia. Then each chapter is prefaced by Joy’s own words, taken from her sonnets that she wrote for years. These sonnets form a picture of her feelings about so many things, but most especially about Jack. The epilogue at the end is then prefaced by a line from The Chronicles of Narnia, a fitting end when you get there and know what it is telling you. It was just so beautifully arranged.

The love story between Joy and Jack was exquisitely rendered. It was a true intellectual meeting of the minds, two people who clicked, creatively and spiritually. Their love was hard fought for and took a long time to be realised. There was unfolding to it, not just a moving through stages but also a building of awareness, an acceptance of fate while still holding back as a means of preserving what currently existed between them. Very much a risk versus reward scenario. It was very proper, restrained, but also all consuming. You could feel the emotion shimmering in certain scenes, and it’s this depiction of love, rather than a romantic set of interludes that truly appealed to me, that gave their relationship a well of depth that I would be hard-pressed to find a match for in any other novel. Becoming Mrs. Lewis is truly a great love story, one of the greatest and most meaningful, that I have ever read.

‘I laughed in return so fully that we both bent forward to clasp our knees, leaning toward each other face to face. It was there we paused, close, only inches. It would only take one of us to close the gap, and finally our lips would touch. But for now, it was only our smiles that met across the inches of space between us.’

Becoming Mrs. Lewis is a long novel, and not one you will want to read fast. It’s filled with beautiful prose to linger over, long conversations, atmospheric writing related tours of Oxford, Cambridge and London. There are plenty of cups of tea and glasses of brandy, long bracing walks and philosophical discussions on everything from the existence of God to debates over what are the most credible magical realms. This novel filled me with joy, on so many occasions, and while it also broke my heart at times, I feel enriched for having read it. Patti Callahan is a magnificent writer and I will be making a point of reading everything she writes from here on in. I highly recommend Becoming Mrs. Lewis to lovers of literature, history and fictionalised biographies.

‘For each season I’d hiked it since, the flowers and trees had shown new faces. In fall, the leaves dropping one by one until the trees bared their skeletons, the acorns plopping to the ground like footsteps. In winter I’d crunched over frosted grass, seen the white landscape of barren trees crystallised with ice. A season later I’d swatted at nettles and memorised the woodland flowers, multihued, their faces lifted to the spring sun. Now summer, the heat and breeze mixing in an intoxicating scent of new grass and damp earth.’

Thanks is extended to Thomas Nelson via NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Becoming Mrs. Lewis for review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan is not your typical biography as it tells the story through the letters between Joy Davidson and C.S. Lweis. To appreciate this, you need to have background knowledge of Lewis the man and familiarity with his works. Callahan's style draws you in as you hear Joy's thoughts as you flip the pages.

Jezebel or Rahab? Almost DNF’d at 50%, 70%, held out to finish, only to find

myself still totally conflicted. I would like to know how much in Becoming Mrs. Lewis is fictionalized and what the author actually got from all the papers that she read, as she readily admits that all letters between C. S. Lewis (Jack) and Joy Davidman have been destroyed. While she had access to Joy’s love sonnets to Jack, all the letters between them in the book are fiction. While we know that Joy greatly influenced several of Lewis’ works, including Til We Have Faces, Surprised by Joy (not about Joy Davidman, but about Jack’s journey to salvation), Reflections on the Psalms, and A Grief Observed, we know precious little about her. Joy’s morals are left pretty ambiguous and much of her behavior in this book does not do her credit although there seems to be redemption of a sort at the end, and that’s why I’d like to know how much is actually true. Is she a Jezebel, who pulled the wool over Jack’s eyes while never truly changing, or is she a Rahab, who had a sordid past, but changed her life completely, rescuing the spies and eventually being included in the lineage of Christ? While Joy does have an epiphany that her behavior will not earn her love, it is so close to the end of the book and her life, that it’s almost an afterthought.

Some of this is spoilers if you know nothing about Joy Davidman, never watched Shadowlands, etc., although I gather much is pretty public knowledge. Joy is portrayed as an ex-Jew, ex-communist who had an affair with a married man, married him directly after his divorce, had a conversion experience, started writing to Lewis, then abandoned her children for several months with that man who was an abusive husband and terrified her children to go to England and rest. During her time in England, still married, she thought constantly about Jack, chased him wondering what his touch and kisses would be like, etc., had affairs with other men while chasing Jack, and when her divorce was final and she got her boys from America, she immediately sent them to boarding school. All through the book, Joy admits she manipulates men and others, trying to force people to love her. Her epiphany at the end is that God loves her, so she is loved, and she doesn’t need to manipulate and pressure people into loving her. And yet, this whole book has come across that she has had no loyalty to any man in her life or her children, no compunction about cheating with whoever is convenient, and through her conversations, comes across as unlikeable, narcissistic, and not much of a wife or mother. She also seems to have pressed Jack through all the time that he carefully kept her at arm’s reach with a love of a friend, not allowing their relationship to change to romantic. He only agrees to marry her when she is about to be deported back to America.

This book leaves more unanswered than it answers, from Joy’s actions to Jacks’ reactions, and the whole thing with Jack’s friends, including Tolkien and others. Did they judge Joy because they could see what she was like or did they have a prejudice against Americans? In addition, I wish it were more clear whether Joy’s rejected works were not published because they weren’t good or because she was a woman.

Now I am left wondering if that is all there is. But while I think the first 70% of Becoming Mrs. Lewis is pretty heavy and slow, partially due to the exchange of letters which intrude abruptly into the text, it does speed up at the end. And while I found myself haring off to read other books several times while working my way through this tome of 400+ pages, I did finish it, which is at least something since I’m not adverse to DNFing books that are a total waste of time. And now I am intrigued and must watch Shadowlands. (Or perhaps I should not dig deeper into the wound this book has left.

But where can I find out more about Joy and Jack at this time in their lives? Must I always consider her as an unlikeable person chasing an older man with yellowed teeth and ratty clothes? Is it all so cerebral that I am missing the point? Their conversations are littered with quotes, but having had many such quote-dense conversations with my grandmother, I can relate to the joy of shared reading, shared quotes, shared mindsets. Somehow Joy’s actions never seem to match her words or proclaimed Christianity. While she admits that she fails God again and again, there’s something lacking in her sincerity.

I just didn’t like Joy or have any sympathy for her problems, except her health problems. Those felt real, ignored by male doctors, and an impending death sentence. Overall, I had way more sympathy for Jack. Here I am, writing this review and still conflicted. Am I letting my dislike of Joy’s actions color how I feel about Becoming Mrs. Lewis?

I think the book could have benefited from a judicial pruning, but then again it brings across the weight of seven years of illness and hidden cancer eating at Joy’s health. I judge this an above-average book that in many ways raises more questions than it answers.

Recommended for fans of Joy Davidman or C.S. Lewis with the caveat that what you read may affect your respect for them.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from the publisher through NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It took a while for me to engage with this well researched story of writer Joy Davidson and the love of her life, CS Lewis, but, in the end, I really liked it. The writing was quite lyrical and poetic in presenting the portrait of a talented, strong, yet vulnerable woman of her times.

The descriptions of Oxford were so graphic, I felt as though I was there was again. The religious aspect so important to these two characters might not be to everyone’s liking, but it is worth getting through it to read this remarkable work.

Truly a remarkable and well researched story about the woman who influenced one of the most dearest writers of all time. Joy Davidman’s story is truly in inspiration as she perseverara to not just exist, but and and live fully in spite of all the pain.