Book Nook: Frederick Buechner

I recently had a chance to review two books by Frederick Buechner, A Crazy, Holy Grace: The Healing Power of Pain and Memory and The Remarkable Ordinary: How to Stop, Look, and Listen to Life.

A Crazy, Holy Grace didn't resonate as much with me, probably because I haven't experienced pain and grief on the level that he has. This collection of essays explores the role of memory in the healing process, thoughts on what happens when God seems far away, letting go of the hurt, and rising above the pain. As a collection of essays, it's easy to read in short bursts - in fact, it works better reading one essay at a time than the whole book at once. While the essays all revolve around the same concept, they don't always flow right from one to another, and a little bit of separation between them makes the depth of his writing much more understandable.

The Remarkable Ordinary was a book that fit better in my life. I have a pretty busy life, and these essays were a good reminder to pause now and then, and look at what I'm doing, finding the amazing in the mundane. It's based on a series of lecture, that do fit together fairly well if read all at once, but I still preferred to break it up and read just one or two each day, then reflect on it throughout the day.

Frederick Buechner (pronounced BEEK-ner) is an American writer and theologian. He is the author of more than thirty published books and has been an important source of inspiration and learning for many readers. His work encompasses many genres, including fiction, autobiography, essays, sermons, and other nonfiction. Buechner’s books have been translated into twenty-seven languages for publication around the world. Buechner’s writing has often been praised for its ability to inspire readers to see the grace in their daily lives.