Customer Reviews

A Stone for a Pillow : Genesis Trilogy Book 2 (Wheaton Literary Series)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although this second book in Madeline's little trilogy of nonfiction is not quite up to par with "AND IT WAS GOOD," it still is worthy of buying, owning, believing and living.

"A STONE FOR A PILLOW" goes all over the board. While using Jacob as a diving board, Madeline reaches deep within herself and explores her faith and asks so many wonderful questions. Her chapter entitled "What are we looking for?" is nothing short of brilliant and sheerly wonderful Madeline.

The greatest thing about this book is the non-linear style of jumping from idea to idea that explores ideas and thoughts with the reader without getting them lost in the shuffle of loaded questions. Madeline gracefully brings the reader along on a journey with herself. She proclaims she doesn't have all the answers but she does give reasons for her beliefs and that's encouraging engouh! If you haven't read it and are a fan of Madeline's nonfiction work, buy this book immediately!

I borrowed a copy of this book from the library, and I hope it comes back in print. I'd like my own copy. I brought it to a coffee shop where a friend examined it and exclaimed, "Madeline L'Engle wrote non-fiction?" Yes, and I actually prefer her lesser-known non-fiction. This delightful book is not a commentary per se on the Genesis account of Jacob. Like Madeline's Crosswick memoirs, it meanders around the story of Jacob, occasionally settling on an event, then flitting to something else, a personal recollection, a challenging story, all the while somehow retaining the focus that Jacob's story is our story. Is anyone less likely to receive or deserve a blessing than Jacob? Yet we too are blessed in all our imperfection, which makes it possible for us to love and reconcile with other flawed people. Some readers may disapprove of the evangelical universalism expressed, but Madeline was a Christian hopevist, holding out optimism that the redemption and reconciliation of the cross would eventually extend to all, bringing wholeness, in spite of what appears discord, brokenness, and dissonance in the fallen universe. Throughout the book Madeline keeps returning to her jury duty experience, and the fate of two slimy defendants, who seem much like Jacob. She has no choice but to "bless the bastards". "God will bless, but we must play our own part in the blessing."

I have been thinking a great deal lately about the notion of forgiveness. Forgiving God, forgiving other people, ultimately forgiving myself. A Stone for a Pillow fit in very well for this kind of thinking. Although L'Engle tends to veer across a variety of subjects, the work has unity in a trio of subjects: Isolation, Forgiveness/Blessing, and the nature of sin.

Along the way she also stops at her usual wide discussion of sub-topics. For instance, when considering the nature of sin she also deplores people who desire to see sin and the devil in everything. She also reminds us that it was to the sinners that Christ preached.

I have not read the first book in the trilogy. (I did not buy it knowing that it was part of a trilogy.) I did not feel any particular lack for the experience, so I suppose that it stands just fine on its own. It is a thought-provoking book. I found myself reading it out loud to my partner at dinner for several nights running and discussing what L'Engle had to say. Highly recommended if you are interested in a book that explores the kind of Christianity that puts blessing over forensic punishment.

This book changed my life. Before I read this book I was an average teen, you know, I didn't like reading that much. Then I read this book and all I do now is read! Since I started reading my grades have gone up dramatically and I was put in the gifted program and the Honors Society.