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Contemporary Literature and the Life of Faith
Listening for God Reader, Vol. 1
The Reader includes ten contemporary literature selections, brief author profiles, and discussion and reflection questions are arranged into eight chapters. Included are selections from: Flannery O'Connor, Frederick Buechner, Patricia Hampf, Raymond Carver, Annie Dillard, and Alice Walker.
151 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 1, 2021
This was a re-read as I wanted to post a review on Goodreads as well as donate the book to the local neighborhood book box. Inside you will find a collection of essays revealing an individual's experience in trying to find God with or without an already existing foundation of faith. Some arrived at a proper Biblical relationship with the Almighty, while others devolved into the realm of pantheism, animism, or New Age spirituality. In today's culture, one may simply respond there is more than one path to God or gods; however, I cannot violate my conscience and ingrained spiritual beliefs by subscribing to that particular heresy. Regardless of what tenets of faith or dogma you may articulate, this book will provide a broad view of what others cling to in order to make sense out of life. Don't shy from the book if, like me, you don't particularly believe the meat and potatoes of the stories. (Simply make sure you do know what you believe before doing so.) This book was a great read, and I recommend it to you!
May 17, 2018
I bought this book because I was buying Flannery O'Connor books from my favorite online distributor, Thrift Books, and they suggested this book.
I consider it to be a huge gift even though they made me pay for it with all of my other books.
The introduction in this book makes it worth the price of the book. However, I loved the rest of the book as well.
It may look like a case of over-spiritualizing fiction, but it is not. It is reading fiction and grappling with the ideas that the author presents in a coherent way. It also includes significant background info on the writers.
My book is so old, because I am cheap and buy used books, that I did not even know that there were other volumes by the same authors until I saw the selection on Goodreads.
Win-win.
I consider it to be a huge gift even though they made me pay for it with all of my other books.
The introduction in this book makes it worth the price of the book. However, I loved the rest of the book as well.
It may look like a case of over-spiritualizing fiction, but it is not. It is reading fiction and grappling with the ideas that the author presents in a coherent way. It also includes significant background info on the writers.
My book is so old, because I am cheap and buy used books, that I did not even know that there were other volumes by the same authors until I saw the selection on Goodreads.
Win-win.
April 19, 2017
I really enjoyed reading the short stories. Some of them were inspirational and some were thought invoking. A good read.
June 27, 2017
Listening for God consists of eight short stories or essays from various authors, an introduction to each author, his or her work, and discussion questions about how God might be revealed in their words. It is the first book in a series which could be used in an adult church class. Unfortunately, the print is small and the general layout is not friendly, probably in an attempt to create an inexpensive book. Its physical appearance might not be inviting to reluctant readers and those with visual problems.
I was disappointed that the introductions to each work tells so much about it that we lose the joy of discovery. The spoiler comments could have come after the story or essay.
I think it would be difficult to lead a group discussion with this book. Most of the material, while interesting, did not touch me. I do not have the leader guide and video which accompany this book. Those helps might make the material feel more accessible and lead to more discussion.
Contents
Flannery O'Connor's Revelation is a well known story about a woman who thinks herself above others.
Writer and theologian Fredrick Buechner, shares very painful parts of his life, from one of his memoirs, and how they have affected his life and faith. I was not aware of this man or the impact of his novels, memoirs, and theological writings on the last half of the 20th century.
Poet Patricia Hampl, in chapter six from Virgin Time, shares thoughts from her Catholic childhood and her attempt to understand God and religion.
Raymond Carver writes about a family whose young son is hit by a car. All of the little details enrich the story.
Two essays by Annie Dillard about nature and God.
Alice Walker's short story about a very old black woman who walks into a white church on Sunday morning.
Two narratives from Garrison Keillor: Exiles and Aprill. I could hear his radio voice while I read them.
Richard Rodriguez, a Roman Catholic, shares his preference for the old Mass on Latin versus the modern Mass in English.
I was disappointed that the introductions to each work tells so much about it that we lose the joy of discovery. The spoiler comments could have come after the story or essay.
I think it would be difficult to lead a group discussion with this book. Most of the material, while interesting, did not touch me. I do not have the leader guide and video which accompany this book. Those helps might make the material feel more accessible and lead to more discussion.
Contents
Flannery O'Connor's Revelation is a well known story about a woman who thinks herself above others.
Writer and theologian Fredrick Buechner, shares very painful parts of his life, from one of his memoirs, and how they have affected his life and faith. I was not aware of this man or the impact of his novels, memoirs, and theological writings on the last half of the 20th century.
Poet Patricia Hampl, in chapter six from Virgin Time, shares thoughts from her Catholic childhood and her attempt to understand God and religion.
Raymond Carver writes about a family whose young son is hit by a car. All of the little details enrich the story.
Two essays by Annie Dillard about nature and God.
Alice Walker's short story about a very old black woman who walks into a white church on Sunday morning.
Two narratives from Garrison Keillor: Exiles and Aprill. I could hear his radio voice while I read them.
Richard Rodriguez, a Roman Catholic, shares his preference for the old Mass on Latin versus the modern Mass in English.
February 18, 2024
My favorite pieces in this collection were those by Raymond Carver and Richard Rodriguez.
Want to read
May 21, 2016This is an old book from college I picked up again. It includes short stories and essays from others such as a Flannery O'Connor, Frederick Buechner, Annie Dilliard, and Alice Walker. There are also author profiles and discussion questions -- but I'm just reading the original works this time.
Flannery O'Connor's "Revelation" is so perfect -- such a truth-telling story without being preachy. Genius.
I re-read Buechner's "Dwarves in the Stable" with a pen in hand, underlining again and again (sometimes over the underlines I left behind years ago). Beautiful and heartbreaking. This quote sticks with me: “My story is important not because it is mine, God knows, but because if I tell it anything like right, the chances are you will recognize that in many ways it is also yours… it is precisely through these stories in all their particularity, as I have long believed and often said, that God makes himself known to each of us more powerfully and personally. If this is true, it means that to lose track of our stories is to be profoundly impoverished not only humanly but also spiritually.”
Flannery O'Connor's "Revelation" is so perfect -- such a truth-telling story without being preachy. Genius.
I re-read Buechner's "Dwarves in the Stable" with a pen in hand, underlining again and again (sometimes over the underlines I left behind years ago). Beautiful and heartbreaking. This quote sticks with me: “My story is important not because it is mine, God knows, but because if I tell it anything like right, the chances are you will recognize that in many ways it is also yours… it is precisely through these stories in all their particularity, as I have long believed and often said, that God makes himself known to each of us more powerfully and personally. If this is true, it means that to lose track of our stories is to be profoundly impoverished not only humanly but also spiritually.”
June 15, 2019
Identifying the worldview of a writer is one aspect of my reading about which I am very interested. A writer's worldview includes the view of God, of the world, of mankind, of life's meaning and purpose, where we came from and where we're going, whether we have hope or despair. Does an author include redemption? And so much more.
Looking at contemporary writers and their literature in relation to the life of faith would involve the treatment of many of the above aspects. Flannery O'Connor, Frederick Buechner, Patricia Hampl, Raymond Carver, Annie Dillard, Alice Walker, Garrison Keillor, and Richard Rodriguez reveal different positions regarding orthodox Christianity--and different relationships to faith, thus making readers both uncomfortable and at ease as they "listen for God" in the selections they read.
Very significant introduction and commentary on each selection and its author. I read and reread each several times. I'd really like to participate in a study group using this text--although my copy has fallen apart.
Looking at contemporary writers and their literature in relation to the life of faith would involve the treatment of many of the above aspects. Flannery O'Connor, Frederick Buechner, Patricia Hampl, Raymond Carver, Annie Dillard, Alice Walker, Garrison Keillor, and Richard Rodriguez reveal different positions regarding orthodox Christianity--and different relationships to faith, thus making readers both uncomfortable and at ease as they "listen for God" in the selections they read.
Very significant introduction and commentary on each selection and its author. I read and reread each several times. I'd really like to participate in a study group using this text--although my copy has fallen apart.
July 29, 2011
There are four volumes in this series. They are short stories authored by our most accomplished contemporary American authors. Short stories are not my preferred genre, but these are totally worth picking up from time to time and again and again.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews