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    Behind the Scenes of Becoming Mrs. Lewis: The Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis
    Behind the Scenes of Becoming Mrs. Lewis: The Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis
    Behind the Scenes of Becoming Mrs. Lewis: The Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis
    Audiobook5 hours

    Behind the Scenes of Becoming Mrs. Lewis: The Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis

    Written by Patti Callahan

    Narrated by Patti Callahan and Full Cast

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Perfect for fans of the bestselling Becoming Mrs. Lewis as well as anyone interested in the story behind the story of Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis.

    Includes additional podcast episodes, bonus chapters from Becoming Mrs. Lewis, and a special letter from author Patti Callahan to Joy Davidman.

    This edition collects all the interviews from Patti Callahan’s Behind the Scenes of Becoming Mrs. Lewis podcast, as well as extensive bonus material not previously released.

    • What About the Children Part I with Douglas Gresham (before cancer)
    • What About the Children Part II with Douglas Gresham (after cancer)
    • Losing Faith Did Lewis lose his faith after Joy’s Death? with Dr. David Downing
    • Why Joy? Why did Lewis choose Joy Davidman? Dr. Crystal Hurd and Dr. Crystal Downing
    • Muse and Co-Author – Joy as Lewis’s muse and co-author with Andrew Lazo
    • The Lost Love Sonnets – Joy’s poetry to C.S. Lewis with Dr. Don W. King
    • Surprised by Love – How love found C.S. Lewis with Andrew Lazo
    • And over two hours of additional bonus content!
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherThomas Nelson
    Release dateJan 7, 2020
    ISBN9780785233664
    Behind the Scenes of Becoming Mrs. Lewis: The Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis
    Author

    Patti Callahan

    Patti Callahan is the New York Times, USA TODAY, and Globe and Mail bestselling novelist of fifteen novels, including Becoming Mrs. Lewis, Surviving Savannah, and Once Upon a Wardrobe. A recipient of the Harper Lee Distinguished Writer of the Year, the Christy Book of the Year, and the Alabama Library Association Book of the Year, Patti is the cofounder and cohost of the popular web series and podcast Friends & Fiction. Visit her online at www.patticallahanhenry.com; Instagram: @pattichenry; Facebook: @AuthorPattiCallahanHenry; Twitter: @pcalhenry.

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    Reviews for Behind the Scenes of Becoming Mrs. Lewis

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    179 ratings31 reviews

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    • 5/5
      C.S. Lewis was a theologian who taught at two prestigious English colleges. Famous for his Chronicles of Narnia series, he also wrote many scholarly books regarding religion.When Joy Davidman, an American married Jewish woman who was transformed when becoming a Christian, she wrote to Lewis about her new-found commitment to God. She did not expect C.S. Lewis to return a response. When he did, it led to many letters back and forth from both of them. As her marriage was crumbling apart and her husband continued with his many indiscretions, she tried to hold it all together for the sake of their two young sons. She wondered what God's purpose was for her life.When invited to visit the famous C.S. Lewis and his brother Warnie, she went to England. Changed by both the stunning beauty of the countryside, and the many intense conversations she shared with him, they developed an intense friendship, and she found that she loved him deeply.This is the story of how that love, and their shared intelligence, had a life-changing impact on both.I very much enjoyed this book that I randomly found on a sale rack for $4.99. Already, reading a different book, I switched gears to this one. It is a book that I recommend for anyone who is familiar with C.S. Lewis and his thoughts and writings.Excellent!!! 4.5 Stars
    • 4/5
      I'm so glad that I took my time with this book. I read several chapters a day in the bedroom while my little Havanese ate her meals! I didn't know that much about C.S. Lewis and even less about Joy Davidson! What an incredible story!
    • 2/5
      When New York author Joy starts corresponding with C.S. Lewis, she is beyond thrilled. They discuss religion in their letters and she is happy to be able to travel to England to meet him (while leaving her husband and two sons behind). Of course, she falls in love with him. I listened to the audio, and though I lost focus sometimes in the first half, I was pretty much paying attention in the second half, but it didn’t help the story any. I probably did miss some things in the first half of the book, as Joy eventually accused her husband of abuse, but that’s something I completely missed (although he did cheat on her with her cousin). With regard to the “relationship” between Joy and “Jack” (C. S. Lewis’ nickname), apparently this was based on real life (I had just assumed it was completely fictional), but in the story itself, I didn’t see or “get” it. Yeah, she was head over heels for him, but I didn’t see that he loved her at all. All the gushing at the end was just ridiculously eye-rolling and gag-inducing to me. I didn’t believe it. Oh, and the religious stuff bored me.
    • 3/5
      Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan is a 2018 Thomas Nelson publication. This book is the fictionalized version of the love story between Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis. I have been meaning to read this book for ages and have been wildly curious to see how Callahan approved the material. While I did like the story, and appreciated the way Joy’s particular challenges were presented, I struggled to stay invested. The relationship is fascinating, their initial correspondence very insightful, especially from Joy’s perspective as a woman trapped by poor health, a bad marriage, and the longing to write and pursue her career as a poet and writer. I am familiar with C.S. Lewis, like most people, but I never studied his personal life. I was aware, vaguely, there was a tragic love story, but I knew nothing about Joy. Her story is a bit melancholy, no? I am so happy she found her spiritual/Christian calling, which is quite a feat considering her background. I am also happy she found Lewis- who was a beacon to her as she navigated unfamiliar territory. I am also happy she found comfort and love after the years she spent in an unhappy and abusive relationship. I’m sorry though, that she never enjoyed the fullness of marriage with the man she loved, which, in my opinion was unnecessary, and I’m sorry her health was so fragile, and she died so young. Her characterization here, though, is terribly somber. The story is flat- bland, even, and I had to force myself to keep going at times. A book I thought would be inspirational, only left me feeling a little bereft, instead. I was SO positive I was going to love this book, and am disappointed it didn’t grab me, as it has so many other people. I do have “Once Upon a Wardrobe” on my Kindle and will read it shortly. I’m sure I will have better luck with that one. Overall, I am a little let-down I didn’t have the experience I was hoping for with this book- but I did like the book enough to give it a three- star rating- mostly based on the quality of the writing and that I learned a lot about Joy’s life and found her journey to be unique and interesting, if very sad.3 stars
    • 5/5
      Patti Callahan transported me to 1940's and 1950's England, and the love story of C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidson. This book has it all: Provocative spiritual discussions, suspense, love, fear, and a rich setting. Patti's writing is superb. I can't wait to read the accompanying novel Once Upon a Wardrobe once it releases. One of my favorite books read in 2021--be sure to grab it if you haven't read Becoming Mrs. Lewis yet!
    • 5/5
      Long and Excellent discussion. Joy Davidman, author and poet, becomes a pen pal to Oxford don and writer C S Lewis. Based on many sources, this historical fiction taught me about Lewis and his books which include The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and books about Christianity. This novel was fulfilling and satisfying spurring me to google many things.
    • 5/5
      Great book. Easy to read the text flowed smoothly, great writing. A great love story, based on reality. I learned so much that i didn't know about C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman. This book led me to buy works I had not previously considered reading by both authors. A sad tragic, but beautiful love story. Highly recommended to all historical fiction fans.
    • 4/5
      Becoming Mrs. Lewis. Patti Callahan. 2018, Janet lent me this novel, an account of the life of Joy Davidman before and after she became Mrs. C. S. Lewis. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would as I did not have a very favorable opinion of her for some reason. It was impossible not to compare it to the play/movie “Shadowlands.” Both versions. I found her more sympathetic as I learned more about her life. If you are intrigued by the Davidman /Lewis courtship and marriage and/or if you like a good love story, you will enjoy this book.
    • 2/5
      As a child I had read Lewis's Narnia books; and as an adult, I had seen the movie *Shadowlands* and read a portion of C.S. Lewis's *A Grief Observed,* his meditations after the death of his wife Joy from cancer. So I knew the basic story of their love affair, which is heartbreaking and--in both those works--told with restraint, eloquence, and deep feeling. This book, BECOMING MRS. LEWIS, aims at following in the tradition of recent books about women who are married to famous men--e.g. The Aviator's Wife (Lindbergh), The Paris Wife (Hemingway) and Lady Clementine (Churchill)--but whose stories have been elided by history. I love that sort of feminist recovery project, but to succeed that sort of book needs to provide fresh and meaningful insight into the events or into the woman's subjectivity. It pains me to write a poor review, but this book disappointed me, in nearly every way. Being written in first person, from Joy's perspective, the book sets up the expectation that we will be privy to Joy's intimate thoughts, but the events of her first marriage and divorce are presented in sometimes tedious detail and with immature, trite psychological insight (as when she asks her friend, "How did we both fall in love with and marry alcoholics? ... Was it something in our childhood?"). Further, at the top of each chapter is a couplet from one of (the real) Joy Davidson's sonnets that she wrote while falling in love with Lewis (whom she called Jack). These couplets are lovely, evocative tidbits that stand in contrast to the uneven prose in the chapters and dialog that at times made me wince. Callahan has Joy speak in trite metaphors such as: "This river ... It's very much like life." And their love affair feels predicated on the craving for admiration and the sort of push/pull characteristic of teen romance; Joy says, "I imagined a few opening lines for the moment I saw Jack." She says to her son, "Look at the moon and know that I'll be looking at it too. We will be under the same stars and the same sky." I must admit, that passage felt to me a little too close to the song "Somewhere Out there" from the animated classic *An American Tail*. ("Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight/Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight ... And even though I know how very far apart we areIt helps to think we might be wishin' on the same bright star...") The book I think Callahan could have written more successfully is the one that begins to emerge in her epilogue--her discovery and research into Joy and Jack's love affair. That is, I'd have relished reading *why* she was so fascinated by their relationship and how it related to, or informed her own life. Perhaps it could be a twinned narrative, like *Julie and Julia*, for example, moving back and forth between the two stories. I think that could have been a compelling, intimate book.
    • 5/5
      Becoming Mrs. Lewis is the story about the love affair between Joy Davidman and C.S.Lewis. If you don't know who C.S.Lewis is; Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963) was a British writer and lay theologian. He held academic positions in English literature at both Oxford University and Cambridge University. I know he wrote the Chronicles of Narnia and The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, but not much else.Joy Davidman was an American poet and writer. Often referred to as a child prodigy, she earned a master's degree from Columbia University in English literature at age twenty in 1935. She was married to William Lindsay Gresham, they had two boys and I think that she was very unhappy in the marriage. An introduction by a fellow American writer, Chad Walsh, brought Davidman to begin a correspondence with C. S. Lewis in 1950. She spent Christmas and a fortnight at The Kilns with C.S. Lewis and his brother, Warren. Though Davidman was deeply in love with Lewis, because of his Catholic faith, he did not reciprocate. In the meantime, her husband was having an affair with her cousin Renee, which ultimately led to divorce. Joy went back to England with her sons. The relationship with C.S.Lewis was intellectual at first but later evolved into love.Joy's work visa was not going to get renewed so Joy and C.S.Lewis went into civil marriage and they lived separately. Upon having a fall it was found that she had cancer, went into remission but later the cancer came back and she died in 1960, C.S.Lewis died three years later. By that time they did get a Christian marriage. At first, I didn't think that I would like this book. But after I started reading I did not want to put it down. This fictionalized version of the relationship between C.S.Lewis and Joy Davidman is very readable. I did not know anything about either of them and found that I was pulled into the story. I was sad that they had such a short married life but happy that they were able to spend time together. At first, a cerebral relationship that turns into a great love story, love for each other, and love for writing. I think if you love historical fiction, you need to read this book. I give it 5 stars!
    • 4/5
      Rarely does one find a bibliography at the end of a novel. That “Becoming Mrs. Lewis” (2018) by Patti Callahan has one, even if it's called by a different name, suggests how earnestly the author sought to make her novel conform with the true story of Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis.A month ago I reviewed “Joy,” a biography of Davidman by Abigail Santamaria (See "Surprised by Joy Davidman," May 11), and it is one of the sources Callahan used in writing her novel. Yet as faithful to the facts as the novelist tries to be, her Joy Davidman seems easier for the reader to love than Santamaria's. Wherever the truth lies with regard to Joy's character, there is no question but that Lewis loved her. That is clear in both books, as well as in every other book written on the subject, including Lewis's own.Callahan dwells little on the earlier years of Joy's short life. Mostly the novel covers the period from the early 1950s — when, her marriage to Bill Gresham floundering, she begins corresponding with Lewis — to their marriage and her terminal cancer.I am not convinced Callahan chose correctly in telling her story in first person from Joy's point of view. For one thing, this means that the author must find another way to mention the later stages of Joy's illness and her death. This she must do in an epilogue. For another, when we tell our own story we paint ourselves in more positive terms than we may deserve, which probably explains why Joy is more likable here. For yet another, a third-person narrative could have given insight into what Lewis, her two sons and even Bill Gresham were thinking during the growth of this relationship.One of the best things about the novel, at least from my own perspective, is the way Callahan uses the Lewis book “The Four Loves” to show the development of his love for Joy, or at least how she sees that development, from friendship to romantic love.There is much to like about “Becoming Mrs. Lewis.” Perhaps if I had not read Santamaria's book so recently I would have liked it even better.
    • 4/5
      Delightful, well researched. The women who travel beside the famed are often overlooked. Joy had her own life and publications but her life is overshadowed by Lewis'. They both tried to live a Christian life and strongly influenced each other. Joy's motives are still being discussed. Very informative, very interesting.
    • 3/5
      I have to say that I have never read anything by Joy Davidson or C.S. Louis and I think that makes a difference reading this book. I just did not invest in the characters. the dialogue went on and on. The last quarter of the book did tug on my heart strings but that's about it.
    • 3/5
      EXCELLENT WRITING, drawn out, a bit anti-semitic (according to some in bookclub); ver Christian; Jewish Poet, Davidson, finds Jesus and communicates with C.S.Lewis about her epiphany. This forms into a love affair and they get married
    • 5/5
      Reading Becoming Mrs. Lewis gave me the sensation of wading into the depths of troubled waters, then swimming only to find the choppy waves crashing about me. Often it was necessary to come up gasping for air. This work of fiction is based on extensive research into the real lives of Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis, and those closest to them. Knowing this, made the arising emotions more real, more pertinent. Davidman's struggles to set aside the masks she wore, to understand the God she longed to grow closer too and to know herself as loved, were blessed by moments of epiphany, and lessons learned through pain. Lewis' oeuvre speaks to his Christian journey, many quotes from which are included in this book as he and Joy wrestle with understanding their pasts, and their relationship with God and one another. The back matter included by Callahan is helpful in processing and discussing Becoming Mrs. Lewis. Thoughtful discussion questions, while beneficial for a book club, are great for personal reflection. A gem is found in Callahan's imagined second letter from Joy to Jack following those questions gives the reader the gift of extending the story. A timeline is included for all of us left-brained readers, and “Ten Things You Probably Didn't Know About Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis's Love Story” and more information on Oxford hold special nuggets of information as well. Finally the author invites readers to a seven-part podcast that explores in greater depth this beautiful love story. I am so very grateful to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a copy of Becoming Mrs. Lewis, via NetGalley. All opinions stated here are my own, and I was under no obligation to provide a positive review.
    • 4/5
      A fictionalized account of the life of Joy Davidman - the woman who eventually became the wife of C.S. Lewis. She was a writer and a poet, a mother, and when we first meet her she is the wife of an abusive, alcoholic husband. Joy begins her spiritual journey when she reaches out to God during a desperate moment when she is left alone by her husband, afraid that he might never come back. She begins to write to Lewis to see if he will answer some of her questions. At first she includes her husband but he becomes disinterested so she begins to write on her own, sharing some really deep matters of the soul with the famous author. Through many twists and turns in her personal life she eventually meets up with Lewis on a trip to England and then of course the book delves into how they eventually become more than friends - which was quite a long and tortuous process.I enjoyed this look at Joy's life, especially seeing Oxford through her eyes and getting a glimpse into the personal side of her and C.S. "Jack" Lewis. Some parts of the book went "over my head" as these were very intellectual writers who would spend hours discussing literature and philosophy and poetry and mythology. Much of their lives centered around this "work" which was not something that translated into action on a page. But I'm sure it was true to life! My favorite scenes were seeing how Joy's boys reacted to the fairy tale like atmosphere of Oxford and the Kilns - I won't soon forget that. As for Jack's friend Tolkien - he comes off as rather gruff! But again, the author has done an excellent job with her research but also in capturing some of the humanity of these historical figures. Definitely one to pick up if you are a fan of C.S. Lewis, the literary scene of the 1940's, Oxford, or deep character studies into someone's spiritual and personal journey.
    • 4/5
      Sweet love story between an American author and C.S. Lewis. Poor Joy had such a rough life, married to a cheating alcoholic and then falling in love with a man that was terrified to commit. I don’t want to spoil the end but I’m happy the poor woman had some happiness before her death.
    • 4/5
      Title: Becoming Mrs. LewisAuthor: Patti CallahanPages: 416Year: 2018Publisher: Thomas NelsonMy rating: 4 out of 5 stars.I am always looking for a good book to read. Are you? Do you choose it by the cover, who endorses it, the synopsis on a website or are there other criteria you utilize? For me, when choosing a book, I use the previous list and sometimes authors whose other works I have previously enjoyed. Here though is a new author to me, and frankly so is the subject of the historical work of fiction, Joy Davidman. C. S. Lewis’ works I have read but I was totally caught off guard to learn that Mrs. Lewis also wrote prolifically.While the author concedes that much in the story is from her imagination, she does interject words that were written by Joy for example in her correspondence with C.S. Lewis. The bibliography in the very back of the book has a treasure trove of sources to learn more about Joy Davidman, her faith and her writings. Someday I may just pick up some of them to learn more about the woman behind a well-known man.The writing pulls readers in and not just mentally but by the heart too! There were times in the story my heart felt heavy just thinking about what Joy might have experienced or felt in different seasons of her life. It is clear from the onset that her father demanded much from her and her mother was elusive, or is that fiction too? You the reader will have to decide.There were different times I had to put the book down because the scene was somewhat depressing. There were other times I wondered if Joy may have done what action was described in the narrative for real. In either case, the author spurred my desire to want to know who the real Joy Davidman was before she met C. S. Lewis, their relationship and their marriage until her death. Even if it is a work of fiction, I am glad to be spurred on to learn more about this woman from the past, her life, her love and her faith.Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.
    • 5/5
      I received this book for free as part of an Instagram tour (Just Read Tours specifically) I did to promote the book.I was interested in reading this book because I am a fan of C.S. Lewis. I hadn’t heard of Joy Davidman before, so I was curious to learn more about her. Please note that although this book is based on real people and real events, it is still a work of historical fiction. This book was incredible. It beautifully depicted the relationship between Lewis and Davidman. Their romance was unconventional but epic. The love they had for one another is truly remarkable. I loved how they influenced each other’s work and treated each other as equals. Joy was such a strong woman. I enjoyed learning her backstory and seeing how she had the courage to not only leave her alcoholic and cheating husband, but also to start a new life with her children in another country. I loved the epilogue. It really gave Joy a voice. She comes from a time where people often silenced her voice and contributions. I liked that the author let Joy have the final word. Since this is a book about C.S. Lewis, is also discusses the Christian faith but it doesn’t go overboard with it. If you’re worried that it might be too religious, don’t be. The heart of the book is really their love story. Lastly, the endpapers of the book feature a map of Oxford which I found to be a really nice touch, since the Narnia books are known to have maps. Overall, this is an amazing read! If you are fan of C.S. Lewis or love books about incredible women, then pick this one up!
    • 4/5
      I knew a little about C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman/Gresham from a film I watched years ago, Shadowlands. So I was already interested in the story of the two writers and how they came to be married. But Becoming Mrs Lewis goes way beyond that with what I suspect must be a huge amount of research on the part of Patti Callahan.I don't want to go too far into the facts but Joy Gresham was an American, married with two young sons in 1950, when she entered into a correspondence with C.S. Lewis, the already very well known author, scholar and theologian. In doing so she embarked upon a course of action that would change her whole life. In the exchange of letters she discovered a man who would make her feel a way that her alcoholic, cruel husband could never do. Joy's ill health leads her to take time away from her home life and America and to travel to England where she meets Jack, as Lewis prefers to be known, and his brother, Warnie. Jack is her intellectual equal and their time together makes her incredibly happy, but Jack is holding back all the time, unwilling to take their friendship any further. A period back in America and then a return to England follows. The title, and history, tells us that Joy became Mrs Lewis but I'm not going to say any more about the plot. If you don't already know what happens then it's best you find out when you read the book. Becoming Mrs Lewis is a beautifully written book. I so enjoy books that fictionalise fact in this way although it does seem so much harder to write a review. For instance, I can't say really comment on the plot or the characters as they were not of the author's imagination, but were real people and known facts. However, what I can say is that Callahan brings them to life so well, making the reader feel like an onlooker in the 1950s, not a reader in the 2010s.I would be lying if I said I didn't struggle at times with the writing style. But this is by no means a reflection or criticism of the author or her writing. We enter a very scholarly, literary world as soon as the book is opened and some of it was over my head. I don't tend to spend time philosophising, I'm no writer and I'm no scholar. This is also a book set in the early 50s, partly at Oxford, and I have to say that the author portrays that era and that world effortlessly. I thought it read very much like a book written during that time, rather than a book written in the modern day but set then.What I'm trying to say is that whilst I found some elements difficult to read, the greater part enthralled me. This is Joy's story, narrated by her, and I found it compelling. She took a massive leap, leaving her husband and kids behind and coming to England, even if only for a few months initially. In the 1950s that was probably quite shocking. But thank goodness she did as it led to her Becoming Mrs Lewis.Even though I knew what was to going to happen to bring the book to a close, I still found a tear escaping my eye. This is an epic love story in many ways, about a woman who was let down by her first husband and by the medical profession, but who eventually found true love and a greater peace. It's a story of perseverance in more ways than one, of hope, of friendship, trust and ultimately, love.If you're a historical fiction fan, or someone who loves a bit of faction, then this is an ideal read for you. Patti Callahan has done a great job.
    • 4/5
      How can a divorced American woman writer, with a Jewish ancestry, formerly an atheist, and an ex-communist develop a lasting, loving relationship with an devout English don and religious author? Just read this book and you will see how this unlikely pair became enamored with each other. Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis first were pen pals, pouring out their thoughts and hopes and beliefs in letters. Later, as Joy’s marriage fell apart, she fled the unhappy and even dangerous scene to be closer to the man she’d come to know and respect. They were indeed kindred spirits, but had much to overcome, including their past lives, he a lifelong bachelor, and she a divorcée, as well as the dictates of the church. Though a work of fiction, author Patti Callahan has done much research into their lives, and the characters do come alive on the page. Their struggles are evident but so is the joy they experienced with each other, and if their happy ending was cut short, it did not lessen their devotion to each other, even after death. And death did not still their love.
    • 3/5
      I saw this title on NetGalley and was interested as I'm one of the many who grew up on the Narnia books, progressed to C.S. Lewis's adult books and later enjoyed the film Shadowlands, about his marriage to the poet and author Joyce Davidman.What I hadn't realised when I requested the book was that this is a fictionalised version of that story, though it makes much use of letters between the two from their first correspondence - Davidman wrote to Lewis because his description of his religious conversion struck an immediate chord with her. He replied, and a lengthy and intimate exchange grew up between them. In many ways, fictionalisation is a good choice for biography - it serves to remind us that any account of another's life is necessarily a fiction, even when we have their writing to base it on (come to that, it's the case even when they've written it themselves). Initially though, it gave me some problems, because I found it rather overwritten - later, I told myself that Davidman (events are told in the first person, from her point of view) was, as a poet, given to wielding words dramatically, so a degree of self-dramatisation was appropriate.I think the book's author, Patti Callahan, admired both Davidman and Lewis fairly uncritically, so I found myself reading between the lines quite a bit. Not with the sort of vilification that met Davidman when she had the "effrontery", as many saw it, to marry Lewis - they seem to me to have been a very successful couple, despite his qualms about her divorced state, their relationship being a genuine marriage of two minds - but I found Callahan's version of Joy quite hard to like, and I think that might well hold true for the real person. But then, I find Lewis quite hard to like too, if I'm honest - though the Inklings fascinate me and I find them eminently readable, I don't think I would actually like any of them.I suppose my biggest problem was with the account of Davidman's first marriage, to fellow author William Gresham. He certainly comes across as a pretty loathsome person, but I suspect that during the time they spent together they would both have seemed, to me at least, self-centred and histrionic, probably bringing out the worst in each other. After her conversion to Christianity (she was Jewish, non-practising, and had flirted with communism – a much greater sin in the US than here in the UK), Davidman left her husband and two some for an extended research and writing trip to to the UK, during which she planned to meet Lewis in person. I can understand that she felt her writing was suffering at home, and that she needed to write to earn, but still found it hard to reconcile the length of time she was away from her children, particularly since there were already signs – according to Callahan’s account, at least – that at least one of the children feared their father, who had an explosive temper and was possibly a suicide risk.Readers who share the Lewises' religion will almost certainly enjoy this retelling of their relationship, while those who, like me, are interested in the Inklings will find much of interest, albeit secondhand. I imagine for many it will provide an impetus to go back to Lewis's own non-fiction and some may be inspired to further explore Davidman's poetry, which is oft-quoted, which didn't appeal to me. I did, however, find a previously unread author amongst Davidman's Oxford friends (unfortunately, long out-of-print and therefore almost unobtainable). I found myself sympathising again with C.S. Lewis's brother Warnie who, although much troubled, seems to have been a gentle individual, and enjoyed an American's impressions of the shabby shambles in which the Lewis brothers lived in peculiarly English fashion. At one point I had wondered whether to give up on the book altogether. I’m glad that I didn’t, because I did end up enjoying this rather poignant story. Thanks go to NetGalley for providing me with a review copy.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed reading Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan. Though the story was long, the beautiful writing style had me so invested in the characters that the plot didn't drag. The detailed descriptions of England, particularly Oxford, made me want to visit. Joy is a complex and authentic character, perhaps a bit too realistic for some readers. She is flawed and didn't always make wise decisions. I did not care for Joy's blatant sexual desire for Jack (C. S. Lewis) as it was over done. Though there is no erotica, I started cringing after a bit at the repetitious statements about wanting him. Joy does have insights about her behavior and desires later on in the story, but I'm not sure it fully redeems the past actions and intentions. It's reality and life experience portrayed authentically on the page.I did like the author's treatment of the characters' faith journeys. Both Joy and Jack have this organic faith that is full of honesty about life's struggles, spiritual doubt, and searching for peace with God. Joy's heart, in particular, is laid bare throughout the story and one of my favorite moments was Chapter 44 when she has a great insight and prays, “I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away.” Toward the end, Jack seems to become more philosophical, but as this book covers at least a decade, perhaps that simply reflects life's changes.Though I've read lots of Christian fiction in the last ten years, I've not read any books by C. S. Lewis. I do know that he is a revered figure in Christianity for his non-fiction books and the Christian themes in his fiction. Other than the author's note at the back, I have no knowledge as to how closely Becoming Mrs. Lewis adheres to the reality of their relationship. This novel does not sanitize him as some have perhaps done. There is frequent drinking and smoking in the novel. Mild, but unnecessary, profanity is occasionally present, no f-bombs. I recommend Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan to readers interested in Joy Davidman, C. S. Lewis, or their relationship. It is a biographical fiction novel with lots of spirituality, but a bit saltier than standard Christian fiction so I do recommend it for adults only.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. 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."
    • 4/5
      Becoming Mrs. Lewis is billed as historical fiction, as it details the life of Joy Davidman and her relationship with C.S. Lewis. It is indeed historical in nature, how could it not be, but I would describe it as biographical fiction, since it is told in the first person voice of Joy Davidman. While this was very effective in relating to her character, I had to remind myself over and over that this book is fiction. The emotions portrayed and the scenes depicted are so realistic, that the book can easily be believed as coming directly from Davidman’s own private journals. Yet as the author states in the Afterword, no correspondence between Davidman and Lewis exists. Callahan did a commendable job in distilling the articles and books written about the pair, as well as transcripts of others’ recollections and letters, and speeches given by the two. She uses the published works of both Davidman and Lewis to piece together what their life looked like. And this intimate novel does just that.The story that emerges is a fascinating journey of faith and love. Davidman’s relationship with Lewis is at the forefront, but the most moving scenes of this book are her encounters with God. Her life was messy and sorrow-filled, yet touched with the grace of God. But if you are fan of traditional Christian fiction, you may be surprised or even offended by Becoming Mrs. Lewis. I was not. Too often the christian life is viewed as a one time salvation experience that instantly changes one from sinful to holy. And yes, when saved by Jesus, we take on His righteousness — His being the operative word. Unfortunately for most, if not all of us, we struggle with the same old sin nature, the desires of our flesh, and the influence of our world and experiences. Joy wrestled with that, for which I am thankful to the author. Here was a woman who was influential in Christian circles in her own right, but also was a large influence on the later writings of Lewis. But she continued to be flawed and falling, yet ever loved by God. That is how I would describe Joy Davidman, and how I would describe myself.There is a lot of drinking in the book; some casual/social and some to excess and abuse. There is talk of sex and affairs and fleshly desires. And that might not appeal to all readers of CF, but it is a realistic portrayal of a life that strived to live for God. I recommend Becoming Mrs. Lewis wholeheartedly.Recommended.Audience: adults.
    • 4/5
      Joy Davidman had "found God" but as a new "believer", she wasn't sure whose interpretation to follow. C.S. Lewis, had stated in an article she read, that he was a recent "believer", also. She boldly sent a correspondence to him, which he, surprisingly, responded to. Thus, the beginning of a new friendship.Joy was married with two children. Her marriage was tumultuous, and her husband repeatedly cheated on her. She felt, with her new found "faith" that divorce was wrong, yet how could God really want her to be so miserable? She needed answers from someone better versed in scriptural understanding to answer her concerns.Both she and her husband were writers, but his wasn't selling and hers were "hit and miss".After a severe illness, and upon her doctor's recommendation, she went to England to recuperate. She was certain this would be the only opportunity she would ever experience any type of vacation away from home.Her adventure began...This novel, based on factual events, was written in parts. Most characters were portrayed well. The scenes were quite vividly described. The Book Title and Cover were "fitting".The story-line was very interesting, but there were no clear notes on what part was fiction.The "flow" of the story , at times, felt interrupted and sometimes I was unsure who was doing the dialogue. ^^READER BEWARE: There are several intimately sexual references, although no explicit sex. There are also occasional profane terminology.I offer a Four Stars rating for literary content *This book was gifted me with no urging for a positive review. This is my honest review.
    • 4/5
      Linda's Book Obsession Reviews "Becoming Mrs. Lewis; The Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis Thomas Nelson, Oct. 2, 2018Patti Callan, Author of "Becoming Mrs. Lewis: The Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis, has written a thought-provoking and intriguing novel. The Genres for this book are a combination of  Historical Fiction and Fiction. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated.Joy Davidman, poet and writer starts questioning spiritual answers for things. She is unhappy in her marriage.  Joy starts corresponding with C.S. Lewis, the author of  "Narnia". C.S.Lewis , also known as Jack enthusiastically writes back to Joy. The two bond over letters, and Joy travels to England. Jack has been a bachelor, and lives with his brother. When Joy returns to America, she finds betrayal by her husband, and is determined  to take her sons back to England with her. Joy finds her inspiration to write in England, and makes friends. Often Jack and Joy read each other's work, and sometimes, Joy will type up  Jack's stories.Joy lived at a time, where women were not as independent as today. She also voiced her opinions freely.  Joy was a mother, as well as an author and writer. This is a well written book about love of literature and seeking love. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy Historical Fiction.
    • 3/5
      This is going to be less a review than just myself explaining how I was all over the place while reading this novel. I think most people have heard of C. S. Lewis and his Narnia, but of his only wife Joy, very little. Was what drew me to this book. I liked it, I didn't like it, found it repetitive at times, interesting at others, grew frustrated with all the spirituality, philosophizing, the tone was so melancholy, not much joy to be found within. So conflicting, a good look at a woman who wanted more than her time period generally allowed a woman, but so much complaining, searching. Well written, a woman few knew much about, a love affair that seemed somewhat unreal but was, and a spiritual searching for snswers from a most unlikely source. As i said I was all over the place as I was reading.ARC from Netgalley
    • 2/5
      I was very intrigued by the title and looked forward to reading this book. The story itself was interesting but the book was not to my taste at all. I did enjoy the ending the most, the story was less rambling then.First, as a Christian book, there was swearing, drinking to excess, sex all inappropriate. Second, the story was too rambling. It was done in the first person with a lot of her letters and thoughts without much action. It also jumped years and you didn't realize it immediately. I skipped a lot of pages and did not feel like I missed anything. The story could have been told in about half the pages it is now. Third, it needs editing. This will be addressed in the final version I hope as I read an ARC version. Last, and this is more on a personal side, I did not see true conversion in Joy until the very end though she claims to have been saved/converted years before but her behavior is not that of a Christian in my view. I give this 2 stars as some may enjoy the book, I did not. I would not recommend this to my friends.In full disclosure, I was given an ARC version of the book upon my request to read and review. The review is totally my own opinion.
    • 4/5
      I love C.S. Lewis and even studied his life and works in college—so when I heard there was a story about his wife, the book immediately became a highly anticipated read! And upon reading “Becoming Mrs. Lewis,” I was happy to discover that the author, Ms. Callahan, possesses a superb and very engaging writing style! “Becoming Mrs. Lewis” by Patti Callahan is the story of Joy and how she became C.S. Lewis’s wife (hence the title). It’s not as much a love story as more of a picture of Joy’s journey (intellectual, spiritual and physical). Joy Davidman struggles with a lot at the beginning of the book. It is a raw portrait of a woman in a bad situation, who sometimes makes wrong choices. She tries to find God in the midst of her struggles and to make sense of things. She is somewhat of a feminist and ahead of her time. She has a lot of courage. I love reading the letters between Joy and C.S. Lewis as she reaches out to him and they develop a strong friendship. I did start to question her feelings for Lewis though and the decisions she made while still married to another man. But I was so happy to see that she realizes her obsessive love for Lewis and that all of her life she’s been going to the wrong places to find the love she desires. Instead of seeking men to find the love she needs, she needs to go to God for this love—and she does! I was also happy that Lewis kept his distance and did not allow anything to happen while she was still married. For all the C.S. Lewis fans, there are plenty of nuggets about Lewis sprinkled throughout the book, on both his life and writing. Ms. Callahan obviously did extensive research. I love getting to hear a lot of Lewis’s thoughts and references to his works. His discussions with Joy are fascinating. I especially love when they talk about and describe “fairy land” and their longing for it. It is interesting to hear Lewis describe his conversion, which came about by a conversation with J.R.R. Tolkien (author of “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings”) about the One True Myth (Christ and the Kingdom of God). I do remember hearing in college some controversial things about Lewis and his relationship with Joy. Lewis wasn’t always a conventional, conservative Christian. I think instead of trying to glorify Lewis and Joy, the author seeks to portray a portrait of two people with human sins and struggles, who also love God and have both contributed great works to Christian literature and thinking. Content: I give this book a PG-13 rating and it’s more geared towards adults. Some examples of the content are: a child is physically abused; a man has PTSD; a woman’s husband has an affair and drinks; a woman curses, but the word isn’t actually written; a man attempted suicide in the past; a woman had an affair with a married man; a man smokes; the main character recalls her experience of seeing a person commit suicide; a reference to making love; the Lord’s name is taken in vain; talk of affairs and sex (nothing explicit).Rating: I give this book 4 stars.Genre: Christian fiction; Historical fiction; RomanceI want to thank TLC Book Tours, Patti Callahan and Thomas Nelson for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.
    • 4/5
      While, this book is a fiction, it felt very believable. I do not know much about C.S. Lewis's personal life. Therefore, to be it felt like he and Joy were destined to be together. Joy was more reserved then C.S. aka Jack. He went by Jack back than. Jack was more outgoing. Yet, as the saying goes "opposites attract". Which did they ever. Jack and Joy shared a true love connection within the letters that they corresponded with one another. Their love only grew as they hung out in each other's company. The more and more I read, the more I fell in love with their story. Example: When Jack proposes to Joy, she says "This might not be the most romantic proposal". He replies "It's not meant to be romantic. It's meant to be sincere."Remember Helen Joy DavidmanD. July 1960Loved wife of C.S. LewisHere the whole world (stars, water, airAnd field, and forest, as they wereReflected in a single mind)Like cast off clothes was left behindIn ashes yet with hope that sheRe-born from holy poverty,In lenten lands, hereafter mayResume them on her Easter Day.