I much preferred Douglas Gresham’s book about Jack, where he tastefully and beautifully describes their relationship. Written in the first person from Joy’s POV, I often found myself wondering if she was being truthfully portrayed. She is idolatrous at every turn, looking to men and her circumstances to bring her the hope, peace and joy she so desperately craves - which are abundantly hers in Christ if she would seek him. During this time in history (1950s), Joy’s independence and decisions regarding her marriage and children were most likely questioned.

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. 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. If you do not consent for us to process your personal data for marketing activities, we will still be able to contact you about your enquiry.

My mistress; but at the same time all that any man friend (and I have good ones) has ever been to me.

S. Lewis, for readers who appreciate stories of determined, risk taking, and independent women, and for those looking for a new historical fiction read or an inspiring romance. 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. I was frustrated and bored because it felt as though the author couldn't decide whether this was a biographical novel, religious fiction, or chick lit, and the combination just did not work for me.Poet, atheist and communist, New Yorker Joy Davidman is an unconventional woman – and an unlikely partner for an English academic and theologian. At the beginning of chapters, there are often small quotes or excerpts of pieces of work that relate to the text and I really loved this extra addition. But it is also the story of a woman who found Eros with a man who ended up loving her as deeply as she loved him. I had previously read JOY by Abigail Santamaria, an excellent non-fiction book about Joy Davidman and her life with C. She ached, as we all do, to be accepted for who she really was even as she lost track of who she really was.