What do you think?
Rate this book
Love Feast: Part 3 of the Book of Bebb
Book by Buechner, Frederick
- GenresFiction
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
1 person is currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Frederick Buechner
92 books1,237 followersFrederick Buechner is a highly influential writer and theologian who has won awards for his poetry, short stories, novels and theological writings. His work pioneered the genre of spiritual memoir, laying the groundwork for writers such as Anne Lamott, Rob Bell and Lauren Winner.
His first book, A Long Day's Dying, was published to acclaim just two years after he graduated from Princeton. He entered Union Theological Seminary in 1954 where he studied under renowned theologians that included Reinhold Niebuhr, Paul Tillich, and James Muilenberg. In 1955, his short story "The Tiger" which had been published in the New Yorker won the O. Henry Prize.
After seminary he spent nine years at Phillips Exeter Academy, establishing a religion department and teaching courses in both religion and English. Among his students was the future author, John Irving. In 1969 he gave the Noble Lectures at Harvard. He presented a theological autobiography on a day in his life, which was published as The Alphabet of Grace.
In the years that followed he began publishing more novels, including the Pulitzer Prize finalist Godric. At the same time, he was also writing a series of spiritual autobiographies. A central theme in his theological writing is looking for God in the everyday, listening and paying attention, to hear God speak to people through their personal lives.
His first book, A Long Day's Dying, was published to acclaim just two years after he graduated from Princeton. He entered Union Theological Seminary in 1954 where he studied under renowned theologians that included Reinhold Niebuhr, Paul Tillich, and James Muilenberg. In 1955, his short story "The Tiger" which had been published in the New Yorker won the O. Henry Prize.
After seminary he spent nine years at Phillips Exeter Academy, establishing a religion department and teaching courses in both religion and English. Among his students was the future author, John Irving. In 1969 he gave the Noble Lectures at Harvard. He presented a theological autobiography on a day in his life, which was published as The Alphabet of Grace.
In the years that followed he began publishing more novels, including the Pulitzer Prize finalist Godric. At the same time, he was also writing a series of spiritual autobiographies. A central theme in his theological writing is looking for God in the everyday, listening and paying attention, to hear God speak to people through their personal lives.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 26, 2020
I continue to be blown away by Buechner's observations of how life actually works. Perhaps on the next one I'll go through and write some of those gems down. They certainly deserve to be.
I'll just reference what others have said better. Read him!
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/re...
I'll just reference what others have said better. Read him!
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/re...
October 9, 2007
at the end of the day, all we can do is whisper or wail "Come!" and that's enough to send our hero of courage, our heroine of new life to our rescue.
That, and...
you have to burn your bridges. you have to leave behind what is behind.
is anyone good at doing that? please help me. ;)
That, and...
you have to burn your bridges. you have to leave behind what is behind.
is anyone good at doing that? please help me. ;)
February 26, 2018
From very few highs to so many lows, from marital exile to matrimonial reconciliation, and from the mirth of the first Love Feast to the blues of the "end" of Leo Bebb, Beuchner took me on an emotional rollercoaster. What a ride!
April 16, 2020
A delightful entry in the book of Bebb. I was in tears by the end. I look forward to the final book of this tetralogy!
December 26, 2020
I feel like Buechner's whole deal in this series, and maybe in all of his theology too, is to feel so desparately the need for the real and the true grace of the Lord Jesus-- if there is such a real and a true thing-- that he shoves the most gross and shameful things possible into contact with Jesus just to see if something comes of it. So in the Bebbiad, Antonio, the narrator, has been more sinned against than sinning to this point, and thus we need to have his own sins shoved in our faces, and so he needs to grime up all the gentlest things he has access to. I'm not in love with the subplot, is what I'm saying, and the actual plot is kind of boring too.
But the lanugage is beautiful and wistful like with everything Beuchner has ever written. And this gets across, more powerfully than anything I've ever seen before, the deep tragedy that in our experience innocence is the only thing which is not communicable. So maybe read it.
But the lanugage is beautiful and wistful like with everything Beuchner has ever written. And this gets across, more powerfully than anything I've ever seen before, the deep tragedy that in our experience innocence is the only thing which is not communicable. So maybe read it.
September 26, 2025
Bebb returns to New Jersey, and at the behest of his septuagenarian benefector/lover/egyptian priestess from an earlier lifetime starts giant "love feasts" on Princeton's campus. [insert line about swinging words back and forth]. Bebb falls into trouble with the IRS, and him and fats decide to launch one last stand when their plane, carrying the banner "Here’s to Jesus" crashes in a nearby potato field. Their bodies are never recovered.
January 7, 2024
My favorite of “The Book of Bebb” so far!
Buecher’s articulation of human mess/brokenness/chaos/“horseshit” (Bebb’s word, ha!) sometimes feels gratuitous and unrealistic, but the first occurrence of the Princeton “Love Feast” was genuinely inspiring. I longed for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and even found myself instructed as a local church pastor, asking, “Are we inviting folks to the Love Feast?”
Looking forward to Treasure Hunt!
Buecher’s articulation of human mess/brokenness/chaos/“horseshit” (Bebb’s word, ha!) sometimes feels gratuitous and unrealistic, but the first occurrence of the Princeton “Love Feast” was genuinely inspiring. I longed for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and even found myself instructed as a local church pastor, asking, “Are we inviting folks to the Love Feast?”
Looking forward to Treasure Hunt!
March 21, 2012
I usually enjoy Buechner's novels, and a lot of readers consider the four volumes that comprise THE BOOK OF BEBB to be his finest. But they didn't work for me at all.
These books lack the succint, straightforward, proignant style of Buechner's later novels like SON OF LAUGHTER and ON THE ROAD WITH THE ARCHANGEL. Instead, these stories are an uneasy mix of
slapstick humor, theological rumination, existential angst, and melodrama.
It was hard to care for the characters, who are either overly passive (like the narrator and his wife) or simply too erratic and quirky to be believable (like the enigmatic Leo Bebb and his various cohorts and relatives).I felt like Buechner tried to turn all of them into "lovable losers"
but instead they just kept coming off as just bizarre and pitiful.
The writing style itself veers from coarse to poetical to overwrought--often all within a single scene. Metaphors tended to be overused and overworked, which made for tedious reading.
BOOK OF BEBB is out of print, but older copies are easy to find on the internet. Also, an e-book for kindle is now available. It can be purchased as a single-volume edition, or each novel can be found separately:
1. LION COUNTRY
2. OPEN HEART
3. LOVE FEAST
4. TREASURE HUNT
These books lack the succint, straightforward, proignant style of Buechner's later novels like SON OF LAUGHTER and ON THE ROAD WITH THE ARCHANGEL. Instead, these stories are an uneasy mix of
slapstick humor, theological rumination, existential angst, and melodrama.
It was hard to care for the characters, who are either overly passive (like the narrator and his wife) or simply too erratic and quirky to be believable (like the enigmatic Leo Bebb and his various cohorts and relatives).I felt like Buechner tried to turn all of them into "lovable losers"
but instead they just kept coming off as just bizarre and pitiful.
The writing style itself veers from coarse to poetical to overwrought--often all within a single scene. Metaphors tended to be overused and overworked, which made for tedious reading.
BOOK OF BEBB is out of print, but older copies are easy to find on the internet. Also, an e-book for kindle is now available. It can be purchased as a single-volume edition, or each novel can be found separately:
1. LION COUNTRY
2. OPEN HEART
3. LOVE FEAST
4. TREASURE HUNT
July 13, 2016
I love the writings of Frederick Buechner. Mostly I have read his non-fiction memoirs and sermons. This series of novels is one I have wanted to read for a while. However, I am finding it difficult to have any liking at all for the protagonist, Leo Bebb. What a bizarre story. But I will continue....
March 1, 2015
The third in the series of books about Leo Bebb, evangelist extraordinaire, and his family and band of followers, this is my
favorite so far. Looking forward to reading the last of the Bebb books. Buechner's wandering style enchants and surprises to the end.
favorite so far. Looking forward to reading the last of the Bebb books. Buechner's wandering style enchants and surprises to the end.
January 29, 2023
Re-reading Buechner novels. He was amazing and ahead of his tie.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews