I'm torn. On the one hand, I'm excited to write my first negative review on goodreads. On the other hand, I have to write a negative review.

You know when people attempt to make a point (ex: 'There is no God!') and they emphasize how utterly unlikely it was they *they* should have reached said conclusion ('I used to the most religious person ever!') in an odd way of appealing to authority? ('The distance between my old beliefs and my new ones makes me an expert, and now, you should trust my opinion!')

This book is full of that. It is giant saccharine morality tale about faith, disguised as a tragic love story.

First, Vanauken sets up his story with tales of the utter devotion he & his wife Davy shared for each other. They put each other before all things and people. They don't allow anything (anything!) to come between them and their 'Shining Barrier', and they have odd 'rules' to protect said barrier. He makes sure to let us know early that Davy dies young, so we easily see how the tragedy of that loss emphasizes the depth of their love.

Not only are they the most in love of any couple that's ever been in love, they are also completely unreligious. They scoff in the face of fairytales about deities! They believe in science! and love nature!

Well, that naturally leads us directly into their conversion to Christianity. CS Lewis, first through his books and later in person, is a major influence in their faith process. He is also one of the few aspects I enjoyed about this book. Some of their personal correspondence is included, and he is a delight to read, with one notable exception. Lewis writes a ghastly letter to them on the subject of the faith-related struggles of homosexual men, whom he horrifying refers to as 'homos'. I wish I could un-know that he wrote those words. The whole interaction with Lewis unfortunately feels like name dropping.

The author lets us know that the happy couple's newfound faith is intense and beneficial to everyone around them as they minister to their campus community. Note the contrast to their previous selfish ways when they were merely the most in love with each other! He portrays Davy as the ultimate picture of the Christian ideal of womanhood. She is even more in love with God than she is with her husband. And, to his surprise ('we are feminists!') they find themselves exercizing traditional Biblical relationship values: female submission and male headship.

Then, roughly two thirds through the book, Davy dies. I read the last part of this too quickly to have anything insightful to say. He spends the rest of the book reflecting on his grieving process, including overseas input from Lewis, who appears to be his only friend worth mentioning during this time.

In short, I found the book preachy and uninspiring. If this story wasn't based on Vanauken's actual life, I'd criticize his lack of imagination and total detachment from reality. Instead of relating to his tale of love and loss and faith, (which others apparently do), I found myself growing increasingly bitter and cynical through the book. It may be time to re-read some CS Lewis.