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Atlas Girl: Finding Home In The Last Place I Thought To Look
Disillusioned and yearning for freedom, Emily Wierenga left home at age eighteen with no intention of ever returning. Broken down by organized religion, a childhood battle with anorexia, and her parents' rigidity, she set out to find God somewhere else--anywhere else. Her travels took her across Canada, Central America, the United States, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. She had no idea that her faith was waiting for her the whole time--in the place she least expected it.
Poignant and passionate, Atlas Girl is a very personal story of a universal yearning for home and the assurance that we are known, forgiven, and beloved. Readers will find in this memoir a true description of living faith as a two-way pursuit in a world fraught with distraction. Anyone who wrestles with the brokenness we find in the world will love this emotional journey into the arms of the God who heals all wounds.
Poignant and passionate, Atlas Girl is a very personal story of a universal yearning for home and the assurance that we are known, forgiven, and beloved. Readers will find in this memoir a true description of living faith as a two-way pursuit in a world fraught with distraction. Anyone who wrestles with the brokenness we find in the world will love this emotional journey into the arms of the God who heals all wounds.
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2014
19 people are currently reading
1274 people want to read
About the author
Emily T. Wierenga
14 books87 followersEmily T. Wierenga is a wife, mother, daughter of Abba, and the author of eight books including the new memoir God Who Became Bread (Whitaker House, 2024). She is a columnist for Christian Courier, and president of The Lulu Tree (www.thelulutree.com), a non-profit preventing tomorrow's orphans by equipping today’s families through the local church in Africa, Asia and South America. To learn more, visit www.emilytwierenga.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
July 2, 2014
Over the last few years, I've discovered the beauty of a well written memoir. There is something truly powerful about someone sharing the intimate details of their life journey, inner struggles and even their faith walk that inspires and challenges me. I often set the book down at the end feeling like I've made a new friend. Without a doubt this book falls into that category.
Emily weaves together her journey with raw honesty and storytelling skill to keep the reader connected to the story with each page turned. The threads of her story build on so many different themes that readers from many walks of life can relate, from caring for an ailing/aging parent, falling in love, walking through seasons of loss, battling anorexia, worldwide travel and missions, to finding authentic faith.
This book is about being a daughter, a wife, a Christ-follower, a sister, a mother and a traveler. Its about forgiveness, living in grace, and loving unconditionally. Its about seeing God's hand in the everyday moments, especially as she cares for her mother suffering from the effects of brain cancer. And its about seeing God's extravagant love and hearing Him whisper "Watch me take care of you".
There were so many parts that I loved in this book. I enjoyed how the author continues to make sense of her past, redeeming the hard places of her story and inviting God into them. It can seem so much easier to attempt to just move on from the tough stuff, pretend it didn't happen, and try not to think about it again. But it seems there is always something we can learn or someone we can reach out to because of our journey and our story. God uses all the parts of our journey, especially the hardest parts. This book reminds me to again look at my whole journey, not just the part I'm living now, but to remember how God has taken care of me in the past as a reminder that He will continue to do so.
Emily weaves together her journey with raw honesty and storytelling skill to keep the reader connected to the story with each page turned. The threads of her story build on so many different themes that readers from many walks of life can relate, from caring for an ailing/aging parent, falling in love, walking through seasons of loss, battling anorexia, worldwide travel and missions, to finding authentic faith.
This book is about being a daughter, a wife, a Christ-follower, a sister, a mother and a traveler. Its about forgiveness, living in grace, and loving unconditionally. Its about seeing God's hand in the everyday moments, especially as she cares for her mother suffering from the effects of brain cancer. And its about seeing God's extravagant love and hearing Him whisper "Watch me take care of you".
There were so many parts that I loved in this book. I enjoyed how the author continues to make sense of her past, redeeming the hard places of her story and inviting God into them. It can seem so much easier to attempt to just move on from the tough stuff, pretend it didn't happen, and try not to think about it again. But it seems there is always something we can learn or someone we can reach out to because of our journey and our story. God uses all the parts of our journey, especially the hardest parts. This book reminds me to again look at my whole journey, not just the part I'm living now, but to remember how God has taken care of me in the past as a reminder that He will continue to do so.
July 5, 2014
ATLAS GIRL, by Emily Wierenga, a biography about the various challenges that she faced in her life and that of her family. I laughed some, teared up some, and was amazed at her openness and sharing. I know that hurting people will benefit from this book, giving them hope, and helping them on their journey to healing.
March 28, 2020
What a disappointing read, especially after reading Tara Westover's "Educated." Some great, poetic writing but it's all coated in such sweet, syrupy sentiments that I could barely finish. She seemed to totally lack insight into her own life. Not recommended.
July 27, 2023
this is my second read of this book and I love it all the more this time. Emily touches on something deep inside of me: this longing to hold your own, to have control, and yet to entirely surrender. gorgeous.
July 18, 2014
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Emily Wierenga left her home looking for a like that she wanted, or thought she wanted. Her travels took her to may different places in the world. In searching for the life Emily thought she wanted, she gives vivid details of her new life. She spent time in Brazzaville, Congo, and this was interesting to read about because I have heard a lot about the Congo. She also spent time in Japan, China, the Middle East, but she still couldn’t find what she was really looking for. It wasn’t until she
Emily Wierenga tells her story, a very difficult story with a lot of raw emotions as she so vividly tells her story. She goes through a lot of heartaches and difficulties as she searches for what she is looking for in life. This is not an easy book to read because are Emily pours her heart out and tell everything in this book. I love the way Emily is reaching out to everyone, telling her story in a way that it can help others. This is a great book for everyone to read, but especially the younger generation. Reading Atlas Girl could help you in making the right choices in your life. I highly recommend this book to everyone!!
I received this book from Blogging for Books to read and review. 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 55.
Emily Wierenga left her home looking for a like that she wanted, or thought she wanted. Her travels took her to may different places in the world. In searching for the life Emily thought she wanted, she gives vivid details of her new life. She spent time in Brazzaville, Congo, and this was interesting to read about because I have heard a lot about the Congo. She also spent time in Japan, China, the Middle East, but she still couldn’t find what she was really looking for. It wasn’t until she
Emily Wierenga tells her story, a very difficult story with a lot of raw emotions as she so vividly tells her story. She goes through a lot of heartaches and difficulties as she searches for what she is looking for in life. This is not an easy book to read because are Emily pours her heart out and tell everything in this book. I love the way Emily is reaching out to everyone, telling her story in a way that it can help others. This is a great book for everyone to read, but especially the younger generation. Reading Atlas Girl could help you in making the right choices in your life. I highly recommend this book to everyone!!
I received this book from Blogging for Books to read and review. 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 55.
September 10, 2016
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Emily T. Wierenga’s memoir, Atlas Girl: Finding Home in the Last Place I Thought to Look, is simply beautiful – painfully, hopefully, poetically beautiful – and I have once again been reminded of how much I love reading memoir. Memoir is not a genre I tend to gravitate toward or venture into often – but when I do, I do not regret my choice. Wierenga masterfully weaves together scenes from her childhood and adulthood in a thematically-driven narrative. Vividly depicting her particularly roving journey to the God worthy of her faith and a place to feel at home, she fills the pages with brokenness and disillusionment and sorrow and loneliness, but also with healing and growth and love and joy and contentment. Entirely singular yet encouragingly relatable, Atlas Girl is inspiring and heartfelt, and I admire and appreciate the honesty and humility with which Wierenga shares her well-written story. I highly recommend it.
Thanks to Baker Books and Revell Reads, I received a copy of Atlas Girl and the opportunity to provide an honest review.
Emily T. Wierenga’s memoir, Atlas Girl: Finding Home in the Last Place I Thought to Look, is simply beautiful – painfully, hopefully, poetically beautiful – and I have once again been reminded of how much I love reading memoir. Memoir is not a genre I tend to gravitate toward or venture into often – but when I do, I do not regret my choice. Wierenga masterfully weaves together scenes from her childhood and adulthood in a thematically-driven narrative. Vividly depicting her particularly roving journey to the God worthy of her faith and a place to feel at home, she fills the pages with brokenness and disillusionment and sorrow and loneliness, but also with healing and growth and love and joy and contentment. Entirely singular yet encouragingly relatable, Atlas Girl is inspiring and heartfelt, and I admire and appreciate the honesty and humility with which Wierenga shares her well-written story. I highly recommend it.
Thanks to Baker Books and Revell Reads, I received a copy of Atlas Girl and the opportunity to provide an honest review.
September 24, 2014
First of all, I got this book because of the title: "Atlas Girl..." It took over 100 pages into it until she got out of Canada, so... while she has traveled to and lived in other places it was not what I expected. It is hard to describe what this book is about mostly because Emily wades back and forth between her struggle with anorexia, memories of childhood and helping her mother battle cancer. But it seemed to be more about those things than the places around the world she visited. Second, while Emily is a good writer, I don't know that she has lived the "world experience" yet at her age. She seems very self-absorbed at times (perhaps we all are?) and I did appreciate her honesty and some insights into her struggle with faith, but all in all, it has not been one of my favorite books.
November 12, 2014
Now that's how you write a memoir!
January 3, 2019
I don't usually read memoirs. Nonfiction is not my thing, although lately I have been trying to read more of it. But something about this book inspired me to pick it up, and I'm so glad I did. It was so touching, real, and inspiring, and I am so glad I read it.
It did take a while for me to get into it, as I usually find nonfiction books to drag a little. But once I got into it, I could not put it down. The writing was so honest, and deep. Emily chose to share such a huge part of herself with this book, and it shows. It could not have been easy to share some of the things she did with complete strangers, but they made the story come to life.
Although this story is about her travels, it is about so, so much more: it is about life, and family, and finding God, and turning away from God, and coming back to God. It's about discovering herself, finding her husband, loving her mother. She shared about the experiences that shaped her, such as her anorexia and her mother's cancer. All of these things came together to create such a powerful, poignant story.
I will say, the timeline had me a bit confused, as it flips back and forth. While the date is always at the beginning of each chapter, I would forget what had happened when, although nothing that really deterred my reading experience.
This book was so powerful, and one of the most inspiring books I think I have ever read. And I don't say that lightly. For anyone who struggles--with identity, with God, with family--this is the book for you. (And even if you think you don't struggle with anything...this is the book for you.)
I received a copy from the publisher, this did not affect my honest opinion.
This review first appears on The NerdHerd Reads
It did take a while for me to get into it, as I usually find nonfiction books to drag a little. But once I got into it, I could not put it down. The writing was so honest, and deep. Emily chose to share such a huge part of herself with this book, and it shows. It could not have been easy to share some of the things she did with complete strangers, but they made the story come to life.
Although this story is about her travels, it is about so, so much more: it is about life, and family, and finding God, and turning away from God, and coming back to God. It's about discovering herself, finding her husband, loving her mother. She shared about the experiences that shaped her, such as her anorexia and her mother's cancer. All of these things came together to create such a powerful, poignant story.
I will say, the timeline had me a bit confused, as it flips back and forth. While the date is always at the beginning of each chapter, I would forget what had happened when, although nothing that really deterred my reading experience.
This book was so powerful, and one of the most inspiring books I think I have ever read. And I don't say that lightly. For anyone who struggles--with identity, with God, with family--this is the book for you. (And even if you think you don't struggle with anything...this is the book for you.)
I received a copy from the publisher, this did not affect my honest opinion.
This review first appears on The NerdHerd Reads
July 11, 2023
I thought this was an interesting read- Emily had a really cool story and offered a lot of powerful insight through her reflection on life events. A few (I have a
too many to include them all) of my favorite quotes were:
- “God’s love for us often looks like suffering. It often looks like the silhouette of the cross, when in fact it is the sun beyond that silhouette, rising on the third day.”
- “But the thing about God is, he sees the big picture. And that big picture is framed by grace and it includes us in it, and he cares more about refining our character and our spirits than he does about acknowledging our feelings. So sometimes he risks us not liking him for the sake of the bigger picture. For the better picture.”
- “He’s a willing victim of the North American society we breed daily within ourselves. We want it but we pretend to resist it. We want it because it makes us feel like we matter. Plus we’re scared of silence, of rest. Best to keep busy. And so we hate ourselves into an early grave.”
- “And then it comes to me. It takes going through hell to appreciate heaven. And on earth we have a choice. We can experience heaven on a daily basis; we can surrender our worries and let our minds and souls be flooded with peace, knowing someone divine is taking care of us.
Or we can hold on to control, for fear of letting go and letting God.
It’s not about dying and someday going to heaven, it’s about inviting heaven into our everyday existence.”
too many to include them all) of my favorite quotes were:
- “God’s love for us often looks like suffering. It often looks like the silhouette of the cross, when in fact it is the sun beyond that silhouette, rising on the third day.”
- “But the thing about God is, he sees the big picture. And that big picture is framed by grace and it includes us in it, and he cares more about refining our character and our spirits than he does about acknowledging our feelings. So sometimes he risks us not liking him for the sake of the bigger picture. For the better picture.”
- “He’s a willing victim of the North American society we breed daily within ourselves. We want it but we pretend to resist it. We want it because it makes us feel like we matter. Plus we’re scared of silence, of rest. Best to keep busy. And so we hate ourselves into an early grave.”
- “And then it comes to me. It takes going through hell to appreciate heaven. And on earth we have a choice. We can experience heaven on a daily basis; we can surrender our worries and let our minds and souls be flooded with peace, knowing someone divine is taking care of us.
Or we can hold on to control, for fear of letting go and letting God.
It’s not about dying and someday going to heaven, it’s about inviting heaven into our everyday existence.”
September 14, 2018
I'm not really sure what I was expecting, but this was a quick enjoyable read. I found it very eye-opening reading about Emily's struggles with anorexia even as a young girl, her bitterness toward her parents, and then her journey toward healing and forgiveness. I will certainly be reading the second book as soon as I can get my hands on it! I only wish that more of Emily Wierenga's writings were available online (a blog), but as a fellow mother of young children, I can understand why that must be so difficult. If you enjoy inspirational personal stories, then I highly recommend this book for you.
July 16, 2017
This author was new to me, but I was drawn into her style of writing and straightforward storytelling. I am a sucker for a good memoir that deals with family, faith and redemption, and this book did not disappoint. I so enjoyed the way she seamlessly weaved together her experiences and thoughts on God, family relationships, writing, travel and so much more. It did not all wrap together neatly at the end (as some books do and does not seen true to my experiences in life), which made me appreciate it all the more. Would highly recommend!
February 8, 2018
Seriously, this is one of the best books that I had read in 2014!! Beautifully written! Her story is so real, raw, and vulnerable and has you asking your own questions as you trek across continents with Emily in her quest to find the thing that we all long for...
June 12, 2018
Her story was interesting enough to me. It takes a lot for someone to be willing to share such a stiry/testiminy. I probably would have gave 5 stars if the book didn't jump around so much in chronological order.
April 28, 2021
Thought provoking and beautifully written. Asking to a poem, to a song. Excellent reminder that GOD is always there for you whether you want God or not.
Thank you Emily Wierenga for sharing a part of your life with me.
Thank you Emily Wierenga for sharing a part of your life with me.
March 25, 2023
This is probably the third time I’ve read this book-you do that with the good ones.
I’d like nothing more than to walk in a bookstore and find a new book by Emily someday soon.
I’m sure I’d read it three times as well.
I’d like nothing more than to walk in a bookstore and find a new book by Emily someday soon.
I’m sure I’d read it three times as well.
May 20, 2017
A well traveled mess...makes for a good book.
August 12, 2017
An honest, powerful memoir that shows the courage of the author in writing it.
February 25, 2018
More of a spiritual book. Liked the info on our local area. Not a bad book..
September 21, 2018
A poignant, heart-warming memoir by a young Canadian woman, who has struggled with anorexia but has found God's grace and help to live a normal life. I would highly recommend it!
September 30, 2018
What a beautifully written book about caring for a parent whilst learning to care for yourself in the light of the love of God
January 3, 2019
Beautifully written. I couldn't put it down and then bought several copies for friends.
January 11, 2022
I really enjoyed her style of writing. Definitely some themes which hit close to home.
June 16, 2024
Wait and hope...
Poetically written, this book carries one through the highs and lows of learning to trust the Father who says, “Watch me take care of you”?
Poetically written, this book carries one through the highs and lows of learning to trust the Father who says, “Watch me take care of you”?
January 15, 2025
Realistic development of Christian faith during all the trials of life. I loved this memoir with all the quotes and real experiences shared as they related to those quotes and the Christian life. ❤️
July 28, 2014
*Sigh* Oh dear, I think I may have a second favorite for my usual one-book-of-the-year-that-I-like-to-recommend-to-everyone-I-know. "Atlas Girl" is a moving memoir that reads like an entertaining piece of fiction with all of the stalwart theological fervor you could want. Emily Wierenga brings us through her childhood and adolescence--as a missionary child in Africa and, later, a pastor's daughter in Canada who learned that not eating was something (maybe the only thing) that gave her a sense of control--through her college years and the different relationships she formed, into family life as a wife and mother with the pain and uncertainty and unbridled joy of those times, as well. She speaks with the kind of honesty we usually only find in fictional stories because then the author doesn't have to be truly transparent about his/her own struggles. Emily's story is so well written that you may find yourself dog-earing pages or underlining to the point where you wonder if there's anything you didn't like about the book. I found her words to be insightful for the many seasons of life we experience as people on this earth: times of joy with our beloved, searing loss, and the irascible touch of sin that leaves burn marks everywhere. How lovely it would be if we could experience the love of God the way He intended. Here are just a few of the sections that spoke to me:
when wondering if her Nanny's (grandmother's) neglect caused a brain tumor in her mother:
"I wait for forgiveness to find its place in me. To root its deep, beautiful tendrils within the dirt of my soul because there is no justice in forgiveness. There's only grace. And grace makes way for peace. I know I can't humanly forgive Nanny. But God can. So I ask God to give me the gift of forgiveness for Nanny."
on hearing God's voice:
"'I (God) often use the voices of people that humans trust to convey my message, he says.' What does it look like, when God takes care of you? Does it look like me sobbing into my pillow because it's one of those days when I realize I'm not strong enough to save my mother? Like my husband who, when we're together, asks me what he can do to make me happy...I'm learning to wake up and anticipate moements instaed of fretting over the entire day. I'm learning to relax, because if something's meant to get done, it will, and if not, it wasn't...The world may not be perfect, but we can make it seem perfect for the people we love. Home is wehre the heart and heaven reside, collide, and inscribe themselves on us." (123-124)
on spending time with her sister:
"God's plan is never just about us." (200)
after her miscarriage:
"This is marriage; to be he stronger, when the other is weak. And so, a beautiful tug and pull; a dance in the wilderness, two lovers learning hard into each other in the black air, learning on all that is good and faithful, and seeking the light--the morning light--in each other's eyes." (218)
on being pregnant:
"A mother is never truly alone. And this child is reminding me of the Holy Spirit that expands within, that grows with every cramp and swelling and ache, and even as I am physically filled with my son, I am spiritually filled with an eternal kind of life that I give birth to every day, in the way I live, in the way I speak, in the way of love. The God of Abraham, Isaac, ad Jacob knows us before we are. Before knitting us in our mother's womb, and it's this knowing that keeps us from getting lost. It's this eing known that is the compass that guides us home." (224)
after having her son:
"And Trent (her husband) keeps serving me, doing dishes and making meals and it is his way of saying, 'I wish I could do more. I wish I could have lain on that bed and given birth to our child so you didn't have to. I'm sorry you had to go through such pain.' I had wanted him to carry the pain for me, and he wasn't able to. And I'd held it against him, secretly, until realizing he would have done it for me in a heartbeat. And this too is part of the curse, that man, made to protect and defend his wife and family, cannot carry female agony. Cannot always protect his wife, can sometimes only watch." (246)
on moving away from her mother:
"We cannot be apart, so long as we are in him." (258)
If you have read this review and haven't find anything in these excerpts that speak to you, I'll be surprised. There is so much we can learn from Emily's journey!
when wondering if her Nanny's (grandmother's) neglect caused a brain tumor in her mother:
"I wait for forgiveness to find its place in me. To root its deep, beautiful tendrils within the dirt of my soul because there is no justice in forgiveness. There's only grace. And grace makes way for peace. I know I can't humanly forgive Nanny. But God can. So I ask God to give me the gift of forgiveness for Nanny."
on hearing God's voice:
"'I (God) often use the voices of people that humans trust to convey my message, he says.' What does it look like, when God takes care of you? Does it look like me sobbing into my pillow because it's one of those days when I realize I'm not strong enough to save my mother? Like my husband who, when we're together, asks me what he can do to make me happy...I'm learning to wake up and anticipate moements instaed of fretting over the entire day. I'm learning to relax, because if something's meant to get done, it will, and if not, it wasn't...The world may not be perfect, but we can make it seem perfect for the people we love. Home is wehre the heart and heaven reside, collide, and inscribe themselves on us." (123-124)
on spending time with her sister:
"God's plan is never just about us." (200)
after her miscarriage:
"This is marriage; to be he stronger, when the other is weak. And so, a beautiful tug and pull; a dance in the wilderness, two lovers learning hard into each other in the black air, learning on all that is good and faithful, and seeking the light--the morning light--in each other's eyes." (218)
on being pregnant:
"A mother is never truly alone. And this child is reminding me of the Holy Spirit that expands within, that grows with every cramp and swelling and ache, and even as I am physically filled with my son, I am spiritually filled with an eternal kind of life that I give birth to every day, in the way I live, in the way I speak, in the way of love. The God of Abraham, Isaac, ad Jacob knows us before we are. Before knitting us in our mother's womb, and it's this knowing that keeps us from getting lost. It's this eing known that is the compass that guides us home." (224)
after having her son:
"And Trent (her husband) keeps serving me, doing dishes and making meals and it is his way of saying, 'I wish I could do more. I wish I could have lain on that bed and given birth to our child so you didn't have to. I'm sorry you had to go through such pain.' I had wanted him to carry the pain for me, and he wasn't able to. And I'd held it against him, secretly, until realizing he would have done it for me in a heartbeat. And this too is part of the curse, that man, made to protect and defend his wife and family, cannot carry female agony. Cannot always protect his wife, can sometimes only watch." (246)
on moving away from her mother:
"We cannot be apart, so long as we are in him." (258)
If you have read this review and haven't find anything in these excerpts that speak to you, I'll be surprised. There is so much we can learn from Emily's journey!
July 8, 2015
I’m thankful for a review copy of a book that touched me to the depths of my soul and introduced me to a brave, sensitive and courageous woman, mom and author. This author’s voice is a breath of fresh air. This woman has experienced much in a short time. Emily describes falling into life’s unexpected trenches, what she did when she got there and discovered something when she was there she hadn’t anticipated finding.
“And sometimes it takes disappointments to remember that this world is not our home. I know God is here in the nature and the people, but more than that, He is within me. The kingdom of heaven is where I belong. It is where all of my journeys have been taking me. And no place on earth can match the welcome that is found in God’s arms.”
This is a personal, transparent memoir written with a unique style that grabbed my attention and my heart from the start. I was encouraged at how vulnerable and honest she was about her struggles. I was inspired at how Emily learns to love and receive the love others so desperately wanted to give her. This book is written in first personal. I felt as if Emily and I were sitting down on the couch as she shared her personal journey. I was captivated by how this author gave me a peek into some life disappointments, heartache and triumphs.
I’ve learned that everyone has a story to tell. Everyone has a hurt that needs to be healed, none of us escape the pain in this world. Emily’s story and how she allowed God in to heal her hurts, help her see herself beyond what the mirror reflected and embrace what He had in store for her life. It was raw, real and breathe taking at times. She discovered how to live in the moment, learned that forgiveness is not a feeling – but is important in setting us free and allowing us to walk in peace.
Emily talks about her childhood, “Years later, when I was starving myself, my brother Keith would draw a picture of me as a wrecking ball, destroying the walls of our family… I had replaced the need to protect him with the need to protect myself. And it was wrecking us all. “…I had no choice at home about anything…we moved ten times before I turned seven. So I stopped eating.”
“The picture of God in my head became a man who was always serious and studying unless he was at church where he smiled and laughed with people for hours. He still read us stories, but I don’t remember ever playing with my dad….. What I needed was love, to wrap me up in its arms to tell me how beautiful I was and to make me laugh. I needed a love that smiled….And I needed to know God wasn’t my dad or my mum, but when I was little, he was. He is the face of your loved ones. But your loved ones make mistakes. And God doesn’t……When you’re young, you see the gaps more than you do the glimpses. You see the whole more than the donut.”
“And then at thirteen, when I was dying on the hospital bed, and the nurses said I was a miracle. I finally saw him. I saw God for who he was – a Savior who wasn’t a minister with a wrinkled forehead stuck in his office, who wasn’t in a mother, who had never been affirmed growing up, who wasn’t the church with all of its rules. He was grace. And I began to believe with more than my mind, because I wanted to live.”
This is a peek at the authors’ heart and her style of writing that captivated me and kept me up late reading this heart-felt, transparent memoir. It was a refreshing, and honest. It’s a read I highly recommend. It’s a book that will touch your heart and change how you view life and God! I look forward to reading more books by this author. Thank you Emily for sharing your journey in a real and honest way. I appreciate you having the courage to share what you did. I know this will be an encouragement and life changer for many!
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I received a complimentary copy of this book 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”
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“And sometimes it takes disappointments to remember that this world is not our home. I know God is here in the nature and the people, but more than that, He is within me. The kingdom of heaven is where I belong. It is where all of my journeys have been taking me. And no place on earth can match the welcome that is found in God’s arms.”
This is a personal, transparent memoir written with a unique style that grabbed my attention and my heart from the start. I was encouraged at how vulnerable and honest she was about her struggles. I was inspired at how Emily learns to love and receive the love others so desperately wanted to give her. This book is written in first personal. I felt as if Emily and I were sitting down on the couch as she shared her personal journey. I was captivated by how this author gave me a peek into some life disappointments, heartache and triumphs.
I’ve learned that everyone has a story to tell. Everyone has a hurt that needs to be healed, none of us escape the pain in this world. Emily’s story and how she allowed God in to heal her hurts, help her see herself beyond what the mirror reflected and embrace what He had in store for her life. It was raw, real and breathe taking at times. She discovered how to live in the moment, learned that forgiveness is not a feeling – but is important in setting us free and allowing us to walk in peace.
Emily talks about her childhood, “Years later, when I was starving myself, my brother Keith would draw a picture of me as a wrecking ball, destroying the walls of our family… I had replaced the need to protect him with the need to protect myself. And it was wrecking us all. “…I had no choice at home about anything…we moved ten times before I turned seven. So I stopped eating.”
“The picture of God in my head became a man who was always serious and studying unless he was at church where he smiled and laughed with people for hours. He still read us stories, but I don’t remember ever playing with my dad….. What I needed was love, to wrap me up in its arms to tell me how beautiful I was and to make me laugh. I needed a love that smiled….And I needed to know God wasn’t my dad or my mum, but when I was little, he was. He is the face of your loved ones. But your loved ones make mistakes. And God doesn’t……When you’re young, you see the gaps more than you do the glimpses. You see the whole more than the donut.”
“And then at thirteen, when I was dying on the hospital bed, and the nurses said I was a miracle. I finally saw him. I saw God for who he was – a Savior who wasn’t a minister with a wrinkled forehead stuck in his office, who wasn’t in a mother, who had never been affirmed growing up, who wasn’t the church with all of its rules. He was grace. And I began to believe with more than my mind, because I wanted to live.”
This is a peek at the authors’ heart and her style of writing that captivated me and kept me up late reading this heart-felt, transparent memoir. It was a refreshing, and honest. It’s a read I highly recommend. It’s a book that will touch your heart and change how you view life and God! I look forward to reading more books by this author. Thank you Emily for sharing your journey in a real and honest way. I appreciate you having the courage to share what you did. I know this will be an encouragement and life changer for many!
Disclosure of Material Connection: #AD Sponsored by publisher.
I received a complimentary copy of this book 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”
Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network Blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
March 14, 2017
Not crazy about the title, but I loved this book, and this author!
July 1, 2014
Years of anorexia. Disillusionment with the church. A grandmother’s suicide. A two-year break-up. A mother with brain cancer. A heartbreaking miscarriage.
Emily Wierenga‘s story is not an easy one.
It’s not easy, and yet she tells it with such grace and gratitude in her new memoir, Atlas Girl: Finding Home in the Last Place I Thought to Look, published by Baker Books.
Emily is an artist, and her gifts shine through as she paints pictures with words in this travel memoir that spans countries and continents.
Frustrated by the rigidity of religion, the lack of attention by her pastor father, a tense relationship with her mother, Emily turned to one thing she thought she could control — her own food consumption. She decided to starve herself, and for four years, she succeeded.
Little did she know the ramifications her decisions would have on her early adulthood, her marriage, her relationships.
Then her mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and life was turned upside down. Nothing was the same. Emily writes of how she moved home to care for her mother, whose right frontal lobe had to be removed in order to combat the cancer.
And she makes me remember.
She makes me remember what it was like for the roles to be reversed, when mother can no longer care for child, but daughter lifts the woman who birthed her onto the toilet, tucks her into bed, lifts the mug to dry, thirsty lips.
And through it all, Emily sees God. She sees her God in each crease of her mother’s broken smile, each brush of the cheek, each muted sunrise, even on “the fuzzy days.” And she writes,
“I don’t have the answers. I don’t know how this story will end. All I know is that there is a very real God whom my mother adores, and if she, in all her pain and suffering, can still radiate worship, how much more should I? He sees the little sparrow fall. He sees my mum dancing to the rhythms of his grace, and he sees me in all my anger trying to love him in spite of it all. So I will continue to trust, even if it means letting her go” (p. 228).
I remember the pain and the strain of that tug-of-war, and then the surrender. The surrender and the acknowledgement that the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.
Emily, too, comes to this realization and depicts it so strikingly as she writes of her own pregnancy, a time when the Lord chose to give life:
“I am starting to understand the concept of second birth — the one God desires of us.
To be born again; to become like infants in God’s womb, entirely dependent, utterly quiet, never alone. Wordless communication, unspeakable love, cushioned against the world’s blows.
Grace within the belly of our Maker” (pp. 240-241).
It’s words like these that leave me coming back for more. I came to respect and admire Emily‘s gentle spirit and soft heart that radiates in her writing even before I read her first novel, A Promise in Pieces. Hers is a voice that inspires me to greater writing, and her words linger in my mind long after my eyes have left the page.
The generosity of Emily’s heart is evident in her efforts to start The Lulu Tree, an organization dedicated to “preventing tomorrow’s orphans by equipping today’s mothers” in Uganda.
All proceeds from Atlas Girl go toward The Lulu Tree.
Emily Wierenga‘s story is not an easy one.
It’s not easy, and yet she tells it with such grace and gratitude in her new memoir, Atlas Girl: Finding Home in the Last Place I Thought to Look, published by Baker Books.
Emily is an artist, and her gifts shine through as she paints pictures with words in this travel memoir that spans countries and continents.
Frustrated by the rigidity of religion, the lack of attention by her pastor father, a tense relationship with her mother, Emily turned to one thing she thought she could control — her own food consumption. She decided to starve herself, and for four years, she succeeded.
Little did she know the ramifications her decisions would have on her early adulthood, her marriage, her relationships.
Then her mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and life was turned upside down. Nothing was the same. Emily writes of how she moved home to care for her mother, whose right frontal lobe had to be removed in order to combat the cancer.
And she makes me remember.
She makes me remember what it was like for the roles to be reversed, when mother can no longer care for child, but daughter lifts the woman who birthed her onto the toilet, tucks her into bed, lifts the mug to dry, thirsty lips.
And through it all, Emily sees God. She sees her God in each crease of her mother’s broken smile, each brush of the cheek, each muted sunrise, even on “the fuzzy days.” And she writes,
“I don’t have the answers. I don’t know how this story will end. All I know is that there is a very real God whom my mother adores, and if she, in all her pain and suffering, can still radiate worship, how much more should I? He sees the little sparrow fall. He sees my mum dancing to the rhythms of his grace, and he sees me in all my anger trying to love him in spite of it all. So I will continue to trust, even if it means letting her go” (p. 228).
I remember the pain and the strain of that tug-of-war, and then the surrender. The surrender and the acknowledgement that the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.
Emily, too, comes to this realization and depicts it so strikingly as she writes of her own pregnancy, a time when the Lord chose to give life:
“I am starting to understand the concept of second birth — the one God desires of us.
To be born again; to become like infants in God’s womb, entirely dependent, utterly quiet, never alone. Wordless communication, unspeakable love, cushioned against the world’s blows.
Grace within the belly of our Maker” (pp. 240-241).
It’s words like these that leave me coming back for more. I came to respect and admire Emily‘s gentle spirit and soft heart that radiates in her writing even before I read her first novel, A Promise in Pieces. Hers is a voice that inspires me to greater writing, and her words linger in my mind long after my eyes have left the page.
The generosity of Emily’s heart is evident in her efforts to start The Lulu Tree, an organization dedicated to “preventing tomorrow’s orphans by equipping today’s mothers” in Uganda.
All proceeds from Atlas Girl go toward The Lulu Tree.
August 11, 2014
Can I rate it six stars out of five?
I loved this memoir. I've never read a memoir before so I wasn't exactly certain what to expect. I was so pleasantly surprised, The power and passion behind Emily T. Wierenga's prodigal story is profound and absolutely amazing. Her raw honesty touched my heart in so many ways. It was a book of aching tears, anger, sweet smiles and quiet reflection - and I felt every one of those on every single page!
What I loved most about Emily's book was her writing. Her brutally honest assessment bled into each chapter with each word she chose. It's poetic flavour and heart-gripping prose left me speechless at times. In her own words, Emily says: "That's life and faith too. Messy, blurred and beautiful." And her words truly were beautiful and open and authentic as she laid bare her heart and her life with her readers.
The next thing I loved about her book was the actual story. Her life has been colourful and vibrant at times and seared with pain and loss at others. Her journey closer to the heart of God demonstrated on each page so beautifully depicts the brokenness and redemption tension we all live in. The story of her childhood eating disorder and family angst married into her mother's great loss physically and emotionally was poignant and bittersweet. Yet with the sweetest of endings that only God could author.
One last thing I loved about the book were the quotes. Each chapter began with a quote. I wrote many of them down in my journal alongside some new ones I love too by Emily.
The only downfall I encountered in reading the book was the bouncing timeline. Each chapter tells a story starting with the location and the date. This was helpful at first. But the chapters do not tell a linear story. And soon I began turning back and forth to discover if this next segment happened before or after that segment. However, in hindsight I discovered a couple of things. First, that the way and format she tells her story is truly compelling and interactive - indicative of how our lives are so interwoven through people and time. After awhile I choose to ignore the dates and just fall into the story as Emily chose to unfold it. This helped greatly. Secondly, (and I didn't find this till I turned the last page) there is a proper, consecutive timeline printed on the last pages. A great thing to include - only wished I'd seen it earlier.
Without any hesitation I recommend this book to anyone. Especially those who have wandered aimlessly in their journey with God. Whether you had (or have) an eating disorder, a debilitating illness in your family or a twisted and convoluted view of religion doesn't matter. This book goes so much deeper than the events into the heart of what God truly wants for us. Emily quotes many times throughout her book the whisper from God that I'm certain changed her life.
Watch Me take care of you.
And who of us doesn't want to see the Hand of God in our lives?
Thank you to Emily Wierenga and to Nuts About Books Blogger program and Baker Books for the opportunity to review this amazing book. I received the book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.
I loved this memoir. I've never read a memoir before so I wasn't exactly certain what to expect. I was so pleasantly surprised, The power and passion behind Emily T. Wierenga's prodigal story is profound and absolutely amazing. Her raw honesty touched my heart in so many ways. It was a book of aching tears, anger, sweet smiles and quiet reflection - and I felt every one of those on every single page!
What I loved most about Emily's book was her writing. Her brutally honest assessment bled into each chapter with each word she chose. It's poetic flavour and heart-gripping prose left me speechless at times. In her own words, Emily says: "That's life and faith too. Messy, blurred and beautiful." And her words truly were beautiful and open and authentic as she laid bare her heart and her life with her readers.
The next thing I loved about her book was the actual story. Her life has been colourful and vibrant at times and seared with pain and loss at others. Her journey closer to the heart of God demonstrated on each page so beautifully depicts the brokenness and redemption tension we all live in. The story of her childhood eating disorder and family angst married into her mother's great loss physically and emotionally was poignant and bittersweet. Yet with the sweetest of endings that only God could author.
One last thing I loved about the book were the quotes. Each chapter began with a quote. I wrote many of them down in my journal alongside some new ones I love too by Emily.
The only downfall I encountered in reading the book was the bouncing timeline. Each chapter tells a story starting with the location and the date. This was helpful at first. But the chapters do not tell a linear story. And soon I began turning back and forth to discover if this next segment happened before or after that segment. However, in hindsight I discovered a couple of things. First, that the way and format she tells her story is truly compelling and interactive - indicative of how our lives are so interwoven through people and time. After awhile I choose to ignore the dates and just fall into the story as Emily chose to unfold it. This helped greatly. Secondly, (and I didn't find this till I turned the last page) there is a proper, consecutive timeline printed on the last pages. A great thing to include - only wished I'd seen it earlier.
Without any hesitation I recommend this book to anyone. Especially those who have wandered aimlessly in their journey with God. Whether you had (or have) an eating disorder, a debilitating illness in your family or a twisted and convoluted view of religion doesn't matter. This book goes so much deeper than the events into the heart of what God truly wants for us. Emily quotes many times throughout her book the whisper from God that I'm certain changed her life.
Watch Me take care of you.
And who of us doesn't want to see the Hand of God in our lives?
Thank you to Emily Wierenga and to Nuts About Books Blogger program and Baker Books for the opportunity to review this amazing book. I received the book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.
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