Becoming Mrs. Lewis

The Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis

De: Patti Callahan

Narrado por: Lauren Woodward, Patti Callahan

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, from the?New York Times?bestselling author of?The Story She Left Behind.

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.

"Callahan crafts a masterpiece that details the friendship and ultimate romance between the real Davidman and Lewis . . . a magical and literary experience that won't be soon forgotten." --LIBRARY JOURNAL, STARRED review | ". . . an incredible portrait of a complex woman." --PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, STARRED review | ". . . a deeply moving story about love and loss that is transformative and magical." --PAM JENOFF | "I was swept along, filled with hope, and entirely beguiled." --LISA WINGATE | "This is the book Patti Callahan was born to write. Becoming Mrs. Lewis is a tour de force and the must-read of the season!" --MARY ALICE MONROE

Narrator really got in the way.

I spent most of the time I listened to this book trying to improve the narration in my mind so I could enjoy it. How was this narrator chosen? She doesn’t bring an accent/voice that is appropriate for either Joy or Jack.

Apart from that huge issue, the book is worth reading. The characters are interesting for their strengths and weaknesses, remarkable for their body of work and intriguing for their developing worldview, careers and friendships.

A Wonderful Exploration of CS Lewis's Muse

This book is a work of fiction. However, in this case, what it means is that Patti Callahan has done extensive research into the life of Joy Davidman Lewis, her relationship with CS Lewis and his brother Warnie, and her writing. It's fiction, because Callahan fills in the details that tie her research together. It is wonderfully written, and the use of quotes from Joy's sonnets and other writings makes for a truly magical experience.

Poor narrator

I found this story to be interesting but the narrator was not good, often mispronouncing words and trying to use accents that were just terrible. With the proper narrator, this would have been an outstanding “read. “

Better than expected

This book was wonderfully read by Lauren Woodward and written beautifully by Patti Callahan. Seeing the humanity of such famous people puts us all on level ground in a way. We too can get through our struggles and move beyond our pettiness or larger struggles and create. We can develop our gifts and talents if we are willing to do the work.

I like the ways Ms. Callahan showed the hours, weeks and months of toiling with writing that Joy endured, there was no magic, but pen to paper day in and out while balancing life. Laughter, heartfelt conversations, good healthy relationships as well as tougher ones, just simply and complicated expressions of real life...Beautifully shown in this book.

Now I want to read more from this author who shows the underneath and below the surface as well as more CSLewis. I also want to get focused on my own writing and do the work to create and leave a legacy of love, hope, wisdom and joy. Well done and Thankyou to author and reader.

Wow

It was like I was right there with them the entire time. Maybe one of the best books I’ve read aka heard in years.

Beautifully Done

This was an amazing literary love story!! Accidental find; stunning performance. It has sparked my interest to do research into Joy and her story. Cannot praise it enough!!

very well told story

I think the author did a great job showing Joy and "Jack" as they truly were, and not watered down versions of what we might expect them to be like.

Excellent book!

I was hoping for a separate male reader for C.S. Lewis (Jack), but I loved the reader nonetheless.

Love incarnate

I believe all of humankind comes to know the vast and intense love of God most assuredly through our most intimate relationships, and that such love is God’s gift to us.
Such was the love between Joy and Jack, which is brilliantly captured in “Becoming Mrs. Lewis.” Well done, Patti Callahan. Thank you and bless you.

Pleasantly surprised

This book was recommended many times by a variety of podcasters and influencers i
follow. While I enjoy CS Lewis, i wouldn’t say i was a huge fan. After listening to this novel, i found myself wanting to read everything he’s ever written as well as everything Joy has. This book offers a unique look into the lives of authors (men and women) and the differences men and women had over careers, etc…

As for the audio performance - i feel like there were a few occasions (literally just a few) that the narrator mixed up the accents. But they were barely noticeable.