Customer Reviews

The Longing for Home: Reflections at Midlife

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Much of Buechner's non-fiction consists of memoirs in which he explores the presence of God in the everyday moments and journeys of his own life. Buechner's books are compelling first because he is a superb writer, and second because his life, were it reduced to a resume, is really not all that exceptional; not that different from yours or mine. That combination is Buechner's genius. He reminds us that there there is no ordinary life, and succeeds superbly in getting us each to listen for God's action in the lives each of us live.

This book is a collection of essays. It partly rewinds through experiences and events in memoirs Buechner has already published (including The Sacred Journey, Now and Then, and Telling Secrets). But it focuses on the theme of home and its theological overtones. Many characters, places and events from Buechner's life will be familiar to the Buechner reader. I don't find the writing to have the crispness and punch of his earlier memoirs. Maybe the mine of Buechner's experience is not yielding the quality of ore that it did earlier, or maybe the writing just doesn't refine it as well. This is certainly a book all Buechner fans will want to read. But if you are new to Buechner's non-fiction, start with the first three memoirs I mention above.

Another deeply revealing, intelligent, inspiring memoir from the writer (not just "religious" writer) who best addresses spiritual matters in a way that is meaningful to me. He shares his personal experiences in a way that is comforting and helps me ponder the mystery of life. I never tire of reading Frederick Buechner.

Buechner's style so lends itself to the hesitant believer, the everyman-doubter, but brings so much hope and inspiration....who can read this and not relate?

I agree 100% with the Thorburn review directly below mine... it's a great and accurate review. I agree especially with the comment that one should start with Buechner's excellent memoir-trilogy (listed there) before venturing into this one. And if you're still interested in Buechner, by all means, The Longing For Home will be meaningful for you at many points. Don't get me wrong, I am convinced that anything Buechner writes is definitely worth reading, it's just that this book seemed a trifle esoteric, even for a Buechnerite like myself.

I usually try to avoid subjective comments like the one I'm about to make, but I found the poetry section a bit too "on the inside" (obscure?) for me, as with the chapter entitled "Rinkitink in Oz"... I can only imagine these slices of the book as being of interest to an extremely select minority of readers. They are not "generally" appealing. But then, the chapter "Of Whipples and Wheels" had me actually consulting a map of Vermont, trying to locate the places Buechner is discussing. It was very interesting stuff (incidentally, I never did find the locations). And there are A+ insightful theological homilies in the latter chapters.

I have enjoyed all of F.B.'s writing over the years, however, this particular volume is definitely one for only the initiated and highly interested.