I tend not to like vignette-style books. I never did like The House on Mango Street, critical acclaim and racially diverse protagonist notwithstanding. I do, however, enjoy stories of young adults living the Catholic life with joy, not bitterness. It’s refreshing, and it’s my reality. With a lighthearted approach in mind, I read Operating on Faith: A Painfully True Love Story, by Matt Weber, and found much mirth infused by reverence.

As I said, this book is a memoir told by way of vignettes through Weber’s first few years of marriage. I knew that the “for better or for worse” of Matt and Nell’s early marriage would come into play, but I still wanted a cohesive character journey to follow. Even with scattered scenes, I like to have the feeling that there is a running theme to a story, a particular meaning. In the author’s own words, the major takeaway is that we should “find the meaning.” I struggled with that. Weber definitely encourages his readers to find meaning in their suffering (physical and spiritual), but he has one critical factor that not everyone does: a loving wife.

Weber is obviously a man who is deeply in love with his wife. Nell plays an integral role in his spiritual life and his physical recovery. (Spoiler alert: It’s more than just the literal busted gut.) It makes me wish I had someone like that to be with me through obvious sickness and health, clearly better moments and worse ones. Their love is a testament to the value of faith and commitment in surviving difficulties, particularly the early ones that trigger an “I didn’t sign up for this” response. It’s a reminder that we experience the love of God through the Christlike love of people in our lives.

That love is baked into every single moment of our courtship, our marriage, and this book.

The former marriage prep minister in me won’t let me forget to note one canonically muddled passage. Before Matt and Nell’s wedding, their priest told them that he “didn’t even really need to be there for the sacramental part; that the marriage was between [the spouses] and God.” Yes and no. Spouses do administer the sacrament to one another, but you can’t just go stand in the church with your snuggle bunny and two witnesses, exchange vows, and call it a wedding day. Not having an official representative of the church violates canonical form. So the priest (or deacon, or in extreme/rural cases, a designated layperson) does need to “be there,” and within earshot, and hear appropriate vows. And if both spouses are baptized, that’s what makes it a sacrament.

Aside from the love story, another thing this book has going for it is humor. Weber is definitely a funny guy, terrible pun after terrible pun. If you like wordplay, you will like this book. Well, with one caution.

As is made clear in the publicity blurb, this is a book with lots of detailed references to bodily functions. They’re critical to the story, not gratuitous, but things get kind of gross. If that makes you squeamish, you should probably steer clear, because Weber doesn’t hold back. Personally, I found the chapter about the owl much more horrifying than the stomach surgery. Thinking about it as I write this review is freaking me out a little bit. I’m glad it helped him understand the transformation in his spiritual life. That aspect was kind of pretty. I still reserve the right to be unsettled by it.

Scattered among much more hilarious moments are Weber’s genuine crisis of faith (probably one of the simplest and most heartfelt I’ve ever read) and the resolution. Both come to him in the hospital. That seems appropriate. A place that is usually filled with so much pain (physical, mental, and emotional) can also be a place of joy (such as in any room a baby enters life on the outside). He has some perspectives I’ve never considered before, reminding me of the beautiful diversity of spirituality within the Church. Ultimately, he finds his peace in the simple, quiet moments of life:

The basic and the ordinary, the non-bookworthy minutiae of a typical day is now the extraordinary that I seek in life. It is what I hold sacred and dear, and it flows in the marrow of my bones. It is not sexy or spectacular, but deserves some love just for its simplicity and peace.

This book is funny, it’s short, and it’s honest. There is no fluff here, just heartfelt storytelling from a man who loves God through trial and triumph. Dip into Operating on Faith, laugh, and love God.

Although I am not a Catholic, I am a Christian and found a lot of things about this book to appreciate. Matt Weber and his wife Nell saw marriage as a serious step. They took the time to be sure that they were right for each other. When Matt developed serious health problems, Nell stood by him. She encouraged him and even acted as his nurse at times. In a world where so many people aren't willing to work through difficulties in their marriages, I found this to be refreshing.

It's obvious that Matt's faith is very important to him, and throughout the book, he talks about his childhood years and beyond, so I got a very clear idea of Matt and the values he holds dear. But we also see the vulnerability and even the doubts and puzzlement because he had to go through so much.

The reason I got this book was because I have been going through a bit of a rough patch, and I've found encouragement through books like this that are about what others are going through. In my opinion, it would benefit anyone who is facing tribulations of their own. This book would also make a perfect engagement gift for anyone contemplating marriage. You never really know what is going to happen in life, and it definitely gives the reader some things to think about.

I received a free copy of the book from Loyola Press via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Operating on Faith is a faith-centered memoir starring the author, Matt Weber. At the age of 29, Matt’s life is really starting to come together. This is the age he marries the love of his life, Nell, and he couldn’t be happier. After a year living as a married couple in a great new house with a fun new dog to take care of, Matt and Nell seem to be filled with bliss. That is until one day, Matt feels out of the ordinary and is rushed to the hospital. There, he discovers he has health issues that will completely change his life. From there on, his illness challenges his relationship with his family, his wife and most importantly, his relationship with God. Through his health issues, Matt learns what it truly means to live significant life.

I believe Operating on Faith is a mesmerizing redefinition of what it means to love and to be loved. Through vignette-style chapters, Matt speaks to you as if you were an old friend, telling you the in’s-and-outs of what is going on his life and what he makes of them. He is very honest and witty and I loved hearing what he had to say. His relationship with his wife is not perfect but it is definitely a relationship to look up to, they both take care of each other in the most loving ways. I loved reading about their hardships because eventually it ended up bringing them closer together. Most of all, I love the way their marriage brought out their Catholic roots and helped Matt realize that God, and the different ways he talks to God, truly matters. He teaches you that as a human being you should not be afraid to connect with God but instead to embrace your relationship with Him.

Finally, I love this book simply for what it is. It is a funny telling of a husband and wife loving each other, and in return, loving God. I feel like there aren’t enough Catholic books in the world like this one- ones that make you laugh and feel warm all over. Matt Weber’s writing style is great, the pacing is well done and I was a fan of the short chapters. I thought each one brought a new perspective and a new detail to giggle at. You will definitely never get bored while reading this story and may find yourself laughing out loud most of the time. I recommend Operating on Faith to any person who has any sort of faith, or to any married person looking for inspiration. This book will teach you that sometimes life can become a little bit crazy but as a long as you have faith by your side, you will be okay.

I really liked reading about Matt's experiences and how him and his wife worked through everything together. Operating on Faith had a very interesting and different perspective and I really enjoyed that.
I wasn't a big fan of the writing style though. There was a lot of metaphors and smilies and it created an embellished tone to the story.
But I really liked everything else about this book and I would definitely recommend it it you're looking for a memoir.

Wow!!! What Mr. and Mrs. Weber had to deal with early on in their marriage is told with grace, humor and most of all love. This book is a testimony what faith and hope can accomplish. And let us not forget the power of God. Yes, Mr. Weber may have given up at times, but in the end he realizes that A higher power was with him throughout it all. I also appreciated how Mrs. Weber was incorporated into the book. They are a true team. This book made me realize just how blessed I am. Kudos to you both, blessings to you both!!!! Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for my honest review.

“A Painfully True Love Story” is the subtitle of this book, and boy – it’s not kidding around. The Webers sure went through a lot their first year of marriage.

I appreciate Mr. Weber writing this book. So many memoirs out there focus on the struggles and triumphs of the author only – and while there’s nothing wrong with those works, this book brings something new by focusing so much on his wife, making what THEY are going through the central theme.

A better book on how to forge a marriage together would be hard to find.

No, the Webers aren’t perfect, but they are great role-models in how they actively put each other first, help each other through the hard days, and show grace for each other’s mistakes. The story in these pages will remind you to slow down a moment and savor the time you have with others – making each interaction count.

I recommend this book as good training for all who want to make their own relationships stronger.

I received a review copy of this work from the publisher through NetGalley

I am not entirely sure as to how the title fits with the book. I wouldn't describe it as a love story. It's just a memoir where the author happens to be happily married. I nevertheless enjoyed the book, even though it was much too religious for me, but it's my fault for not noticing that Religion-&-Spirituality label when I requested this book on Netgalley. ^^

For most newly married couples, the first year of marriage is a very joyful time. For Matt & Nell Weber it was something very different. Only a few months after their wedding Matt underwent emergency surgery on his stomach that left him with a scar running down much of his body.

His struggle to recover, Nell's love and what the experience taught him about God is the subject of this charming short book. Gaining wisdom and insight is good, even when, as is the case here, it is gained with much suffering. I loved the insights of this book.

Really well written true story. I really enjoyed reading this book

Operating on Faith is a memoir written by Matt Weber. At age 29 he got married, bought a house with his wife, honeymooned then had an emergency life changing surgery. You face a lot in your first year of marriage, but a health crisis is not what Matt or his wife had planned, especially being that young and never having health issues previously.

I am not Catholic, so I had never heard of Matt Weber. He had written a book before Operating on Faith called Fearing the Stigmata and is host of The CatholicTV Network series The Lens. I wanted to read Operating on Faith based on the premise of the book. I enjoyed it and I liked Matt’s writing style. He takes his writing with humor, including the introduction to the book and even the chapter titles. The chapters are short which makes the book a very quick one to read.

You can see the struggle that Matt and his wife face dealing with his multiple health crises. I say multiple as there is a second struggle for them that happens. Through it all Matt and his wife have their love for each other and their faith. There is definitely humor in that household and you can’t help but laugh at parts of the book, even through their frustrations.

The only negative that I could see with the book is that I am not Catholic, so there were a few things that I did not understand. For example, I found myself wondering what the importance of Pope Francis is to Catholics, and also what exactly a “black mass” is. I felt a little more explanation would have been nice for those not knowing about the Catholic religion.

I did enjoy Operating on Faith and would be interested in Reading Matt Weber’s first book, Fearing the Stigmata.

Operating on Faith is recommended.

I received a copy from NetGalley and Loyola Press.