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Redeemed: A Spiritual Misfit Stumbles Toward God, Marginal Sanity, and the Peace That Passes All Understanding
An NPR commentator’s story of an unlikely epiphany and the healing power of faith
After years of sleeping around, working as a waitress, and suffering booze- induced blackouts, Heather King settled into sobriety, marriage, and a financially lucrative but unfulfilling career in a Beverly Hills law firm. As someone who had reached middle age “never believing in much of anything,” she found herself in the last place she thought she’d end up: the Catholic church.
Redeemed describes the steps of King’s journey—from finding herself holed up on the couch reading Hermits of the World (and then wondering why she and her husband weren’t having sex) to dealing with the breast cancer that brought her face-to-face with the Virgin Mary. With the death of her father and the devastation of divorce, she connects with Jesus Christ: “A guy who hung out with lepers, paralytics, the possessed: this is someone I can trust.”
This is a profound, fervent, darkly funny tale of an ongoing conversion by a Catholic who, however devout, is about as far from saintlike as can be imagined. Fans of Lauren Winners’s Girl Meets God and Anne Lamott’s writings will be drawn to King’s refreshing sense of humor, mesmerizing voice, and piercing honesty.
After years of sleeping around, working as a waitress, and suffering booze- induced blackouts, Heather King settled into sobriety, marriage, and a financially lucrative but unfulfilling career in a Beverly Hills law firm. As someone who had reached middle age “never believing in much of anything,” she found herself in the last place she thought she’d end up: the Catholic church.
Redeemed describes the steps of King’s journey—from finding herself holed up on the couch reading Hermits of the World (and then wondering why she and her husband weren’t having sex) to dealing with the breast cancer that brought her face-to-face with the Virgin Mary. With the death of her father and the devastation of divorce, she connects with Jesus Christ: “A guy who hung out with lepers, paralytics, the possessed: this is someone I can trust.”
This is a profound, fervent, darkly funny tale of an ongoing conversion by a Catholic who, however devout, is about as far from saintlike as can be imagined. Fans of Lauren Winners’s Girl Meets God and Anne Lamott’s writings will be drawn to King’s refreshing sense of humor, mesmerizing voice, and piercing honesty.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
20 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Heather King
13 books76 followersHeather King is an essayist, memoirist, and blogger. Raised on the coast of New Hampshire, she struggled with alcoholism for many years, got sober in 1987, and converted to Catholicism in 1996.
She is the author of nine books of essay and memoir, and has recorded over 30 slice-of-life commentaries for National Public Radio's "All Things Considered."
She also speaks nationwide, writes a weekly arts and culture column for “Angelus,” the archdiocesan newspaper of LA, and a monthly column on unsung saints for “Magnificat” magazine.
Her work, which she roughly defines as "the tragicomedy of the cross," ranges in subject from addiction to vocational crises, conversion, food, money, cancer, unrequited love, prayer and healing from abortion.
She lives in Pasadena, CA. For more info and her blog, visit Heather King: Mystery, Smarts, Laughs.
She is the author of nine books of essay and memoir, and has recorded over 30 slice-of-life commentaries for National Public Radio's "All Things Considered."
She also speaks nationwide, writes a weekly arts and culture column for “Angelus,” the archdiocesan newspaper of LA, and a monthly column on unsung saints for “Magnificat” magazine.
Her work, which she roughly defines as "the tragicomedy of the cross," ranges in subject from addiction to vocational crises, conversion, food, money, cancer, unrequited love, prayer and healing from abortion.
She lives in Pasadena, CA. For more info and her blog, visit Heather King: Mystery, Smarts, Laughs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 16, 2011
I had such high hopes for this book! I had read one of King's essays in The Sun magazine's "The Mysterious Life of the Heart," and then I heard that she was a commentator on NPR. Finally, reviews of the book compared her to Anne Lamott, and compared the book itself to "Eat, Pray, Love." How in God's name could it go so very very wrong???
This was nothing like Anne Lamott and nothing like "Eat, Pray, Love." The book begins with an almost-proselytizing preface in which the author explains that Jesus is the answer, even if you think you're an atheist. I just could not get over what seemed to me to be a condescending tone toward all who had not "found Jesus" yet.
So then I decided to read the book as if I were the perky evangelical girl that I was in college. But I STILL had problems. King offers an entire chapter about the Catholic church's teachings on sex, but I have no idea what she is actually saying, except that she agrees with them. Does this mean she stops having sex with her husband? Goes off birth control? She seems to shrug off the fact that women aren't allowed to be priests like it's nothing. It was at this point (around page 70) that I threw the book across the room and stopped reading. It was also at this point that I realized that all of her scholarly religious quotes came from...wait for it...dead white men! Awesome!
So maybe "Redeemed" redeems itself after page 70, but I just felt a shallowness of thought that I couldn't shrug off. The attempts at self-deprecating humor, a theology of all-consuming sinfulness that needs redeemed, and lack of engagement with the deep questions about religion made this one not work for me at all. :(
This was nothing like Anne Lamott and nothing like "Eat, Pray, Love." The book begins with an almost-proselytizing preface in which the author explains that Jesus is the answer, even if you think you're an atheist. I just could not get over what seemed to me to be a condescending tone toward all who had not "found Jesus" yet.
So then I decided to read the book as if I were the perky evangelical girl that I was in college. But I STILL had problems. King offers an entire chapter about the Catholic church's teachings on sex, but I have no idea what she is actually saying, except that she agrees with them. Does this mean she stops having sex with her husband? Goes off birth control? She seems to shrug off the fact that women aren't allowed to be priests like it's nothing. It was at this point (around page 70) that I threw the book across the room and stopped reading. It was also at this point that I realized that all of her scholarly religious quotes came from...wait for it...dead white men! Awesome!
So maybe "Redeemed" redeems itself after page 70, but I just felt a shallowness of thought that I couldn't shrug off. The attempts at self-deprecating humor, a theology of all-consuming sinfulness that needs redeemed, and lack of engagement with the deep questions about religion made this one not work for me at all. :(
March 15, 2015
This book was an interesting memoir and the author was brave to share her story. However, I had some major issues with the book. Firstly, the author used the "R" word to refer to a presumably developmentally delayed co-worked. Perhaps this was considered less of an issue in 2008 but that alone soured the book for me.
Secondly, I felt that King was poorly formed in Catholic Faith and there were some glaring issues with her theology. She put the writing of Thomas Keating on the same plane as St. John of Cross. To me, her understanding and acceptance of the Church's teaching in matters of faith and morals was at least presented in a fuzzy and obtuse manner.
In addition, some of what King wrote just didn't make sense to me. For instance, in regards to abortion, she wrote, "It doesn't matter what's being destroyed in an abortion is a 'person'(her quotes) or not: it's wrong." The author goes on to say that she did not believe abortion is murder but it was bad and wrong. To me that is cognitive dissonance.
I usually love books about recovery from addiction and conversion to the Catholic Faith, but the telling of this story just did not resonate well with me.
Secondly, I felt that King was poorly formed in Catholic Faith and there were some glaring issues with her theology. She put the writing of Thomas Keating on the same plane as St. John of Cross. To me, her understanding and acceptance of the Church's teaching in matters of faith and morals was at least presented in a fuzzy and obtuse manner.
In addition, some of what King wrote just didn't make sense to me. For instance, in regards to abortion, she wrote, "It doesn't matter what's being destroyed in an abortion is a 'person'(her quotes) or not: it's wrong." The author goes on to say that she did not believe abortion is murder but it was bad and wrong. To me that is cognitive dissonance.
I usually love books about recovery from addiction and conversion to the Catholic Faith, but the telling of this story just did not resonate well with me.
July 8, 2018
This is an amazing and interesting book. This story of one woman's spiritual journey, and the then her subsequent writing journey, made a huge impact on me. I kept writing down quotes that struck me so much - ex:
"I was stowing all those details away... like a seed storing sunlight... it had been a long, long winter, and though I didn't know it yet, I was biding my time for Spring."
and: "The opposite of holding onto control isn't letting go - it's participating in something that is bigger than ourselves."
and:"Books saved my life - literally kept me from killing myself - and now I know it was because so many people were willing to burn out their lives in front of a page, trying to get it right."
I just loved her insights, her humility, and her words! Very inspiring and thought-provoking.
"I was stowing all those details away... like a seed storing sunlight... it had been a long, long winter, and though I didn't know it yet, I was biding my time for Spring."
and: "The opposite of holding onto control isn't letting go - it's participating in something that is bigger than ourselves."
and:"Books saved my life - literally kept me from killing myself - and now I know it was because so many people were willing to burn out their lives in front of a page, trying to get it right."
I just loved her insights, her humility, and her words! Very inspiring and thought-provoking.
January 18, 2011
Heather King's second memoir, Redeemed, picks up where Parched left off, after she has gone sober. Redeemed focuses on King's search for peace in a life after alcohol and describes her marriage, legal career, her turn to professional writing and her conversation to Catholicism. Movingly written, it is more theme driven than plot driven, more focused on her quest for meaning than on a "what happened next" narrative. In the process, King addresses themes such as the meaning of humility and the essential human need for community in a wry, half-tragic, half-humorous way.
April 1, 2009
I can't say that I was very keen on this book. King is rigid, self-absorbed, and while she does try to be funny about it (shades of Anne Lamott) she fails miserably. She discusses her conversion and faith journey in small vignettes, and the stories do not tie together well. Overall, a bit of a dud, I'd say.
April 19, 2014
"We live in a society that glorifies autonomy. But autonomy doesn't free us from bondage to ourselves and our desires--humility does."
At first, I found Heather King's writing style annoying. But I was miles from home and this was my reading choice as I awaited my fate as a prospective juror. The quote above hooked me. I enjoyed her experiences, her insights, and her refreshing honesty.
At first, I found Heather King's writing style annoying. But I was miles from home and this was my reading choice as I awaited my fate as a prospective juror. The quote above hooked me. I enjoyed her experiences, her insights, and her refreshing honesty.
July 31, 2008
inspiring. comforting. very genuine and down to earth. alternately funny and moving. in the vein of anne lamott. i love spiritual journey books from people who are not in the saint category and reveal that the path towards holiness is for all of us.
December 23, 2009
Another in my recent spate of spiritual memoir reading, this was a choppy collection of anecdotes about the writer's journey into Catholicism. It was also about alcoholism and breast cancer, and while the individual chapters have some nice moments, on the whole, the book did not hang together for me and felt more like an assemblage of short essays. Her idea of religion is very strident and strict, and sometimes this made her come across as extremely judgmental. Again, however, there are some nice moments and the sense of her attempts to transform herself is clear throughout. Perhaps I just wanted more of a central story.
September 30, 2011
I'm not usually into memoirs, but I'd recommend this one as an honest and intimate look at the difference faith makes in the way one relates to the world. From her recovery from alcoholism to her short-lived career as a high-earning lawyer, her conversion to Catholicism and journey as a writer, Heather King's insights break the mold in terms of your typical conservative vs. liberal discussions of Catholicism and the Church, with an honesty that I find refreshing. Finally, there's very much an element of Augustine's Confessions in "Redeemed" -- praising God not only for saving her from her past life, but for *using* her past to draw her to Him.
January 9, 2015
Heather King so beautifully describes our journey discovering God's grace and our true identity. Having read her memoir, Parched, I could deeply feel her desire for a new identity and experienced her a-ha moments with her, reminiscing of my own changes and insights when I was a new Christian.
I loved especially that King is Catholic, which for Christians can sometimes come with the assumption that they lack of a personal relationship with Jesus. King is honest, direct, and genuine, giving the reader a glimpse into her intimate, imperfect relationship with her Savior.
I was inspired and stretched.
I loved especially that King is Catholic, which for Christians can sometimes come with the assumption that they lack of a personal relationship with Jesus. King is honest, direct, and genuine, giving the reader a glimpse into her intimate, imperfect relationship with her Savior.
I was inspired and stretched.
June 30, 2011
An interesting follow-up to King's first book, Parched, but not quite as engaging. I appreciated that she carried some of the later information from her last book into the discussion of why she started this journey towards a spiritual life and a search for God in her life, but it started to fizzle out a bit around 3/4 of the way through the book. I do appreciate her prose style because it is smooth; I also relate to much of her journey, especially in her first book.
January 22, 2017
Heather King's very personal essays work beautifully to form an interesting memoir. I really admire King for having the courage to say no to both a legal career and cancer treatment. Perhaps she'd say that saying no to addiction was more important. King is a very intelligent reader and uses her insights from authors she loves throughout the book. My friends here in Georgia like her because she really understands Flannery O'Connor, our great fiction writer.
September 2, 2008
Pretty serviceable.
I think maybe it would have helped to have read Parched first.
The religion stuff didn't really feel integrated with the memoir except for maybe the fact that she is sort of a lonely lady and there is some holiness to that. Some good,insightful, and shockingly intimate stuff about suffering and dying though. Hm.
I think maybe it would have helped to have read Parched first.
The religion stuff didn't really feel integrated with the memoir except for maybe the fact that she is sort of a lonely lady and there is some holiness to that. Some good,insightful, and shockingly intimate stuff about suffering and dying though. Hm.
Read
January 2, 2012Looking for sweet spirituality, an affirmation that your bourgeois life is good enough, or preacher lies to warm your toes? Keep moving. This book is NOT for you. Instead, King gives us herself (in all of her messy humanity) in confrontation with the merciful face of Jesus Christ. I'm just a few chapters in, but looking forward to reading more tomorrow.
April 12, 2012
I'd first read another of King's books, Shirt of Flame, and liked it very much. This is the author's story of her recovery from alcoholism and finding God and the Church. There are a few points of Church teaching on which she puts her own interpretations, but overall it's a beautiful journey to read.
April 8, 2008
I really enjoyed this book. Even if one has not been through the alcoholism and loss that the author has experienced, I believe that everyone has struggles in their life and many find peace in God and the church as the author did with Catholicism.
July 23, 2008
I am so impressed by Heather King's writing. She is funny and brave and incredibly honest, and you don't have to share her beliefs to be enriched by her story. Read Parched too if you haven't. She's a wonderful writer and it is an amazing story.
January 25, 2017
I admire her enthusiasm for her new found faith but it was a little silly at times and she contradicted herself. Now, I am not saying there isn't room in religion for a little good hearted contradiction but in this case it sort of put me off.
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October 25, 2010I read it too quickly, but, from what I gathered, Ms. King is a woman that uses the examples given to her through life experience and the Catholic Church's teachings to deal with her own emotional and interpersonal problems.
June 30, 2015
As someone who grew up Catholic, but drifted away from the church as I got older, I really enjoyed this book. The author describes how her newfound faith helped her through a bout with cancer and divorce. A good book to read if you are questioning your faith or spirituality.
June 25, 2008
This is an amazing book: funny, touching, honest. And King can really write...her pages pulled me in and made me skip things like dinner and sleep.
June 25, 2009
I loved her first memoir, Parched, and so far this one is wonderful!!
Read
February 18, 2011Loved some of her insights but can't recommend it because she missed the boat in her discussion on abortion.
November 27, 2011
Her sobriety memoir was great, but this was plain awful.
January 31, 2013
This woman speaks clearly to me
April 24, 2013
More like talking to a friend than reading a memoir. Inspiring though.
June 6, 2014
A beautifully spiritual memoir, rooted in a deep love of God and the suffering and difficulties of everyday life. Honest, compassionate, and uplifting.
May 24, 2016
I really enjoyed her writing style... very much like Anne Lamott... though not as funny. oh well. Still a lot of salient points made! looking forward now to reading her book about money.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews