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Home By Another Way

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In these sermons, Barbara Brown Taylor walks us through the church year from the expectancy of Advent to the fires of Pentecost and beyond. Her themes arise not only from a particular feast or fast, but out of the perennial questions of faith: doubt, grace, anger, and jubilation. These sermons are simply great stories well told.

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 25, 1997

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About the author

Barbara Brown Taylor

65 books1,300 followers
Barbara Brown Taylor is a New York Times best-selling author, teacher, and Episcopal priest. Her first memoir, Leaving Church (2006), won an Author of the Year award from the Georgia Writers Association. Her last book, Learning to Walk in the Dark (2014), was featured on the cover of TIME magazine. She has served on the faculties of Piedmont College, Columbia Theological Seminary, Candler School of Theology at Emory University, McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University, and the Certificate in Theological Studies program at Arrendale State Prison for Women in Alto, Georgia. In 2014 TIME included her on its annual list of Most Influential People; in 2015 she was named Georgia Woman of the Year; in 2016 she received The President’s Medal at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Mercer University and is working on her fourteenth book, Holy Envy, forthcoming from HarperOne in August 2018.

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5 stars
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187 (28%)
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94 (14%)
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20 (3%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
Profile Image for Jennifer.
5,361 reviews64 followers
October 2, 2018
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The illustrations in this book are absolutely amazing - just beautiful. It's sad that the story isn't really any good. I was very disappointed in it. Obviously, every author has to take a little license because the Bible itself does not go into great detail, but this author chose to portray the three wise men as foolish (one existed by only eating herbs steeped in water, another spent his life and fortune doing nothing but learning the ancient language - whatever that is - as the last one expended all his efforts to learn to walk on hot coals). Seriously? That's the best backstory the author can come up with for such iconic figures? Wow. SMH Then, Herod is portrayed as being bad just because he's fat, lazy, and has bad breath. Um, okay? Mary, Joseph, and Jesus himself play such a tiny role in the story that they may as well not be there at all. In the end Really? That's all they learned from their encounter with the Christ Child? Again, SMH with nothing to say.

If you're looking for beautiful pictures to use to tell the story of the wisemen, absolutely pick up this book. If you want a nice story to read to your kids - try something else. Not recommended.
Profile Image for Monique the Book Geek.
662 reviews12 followers
Read
June 13, 2018
This is a delightful retelling of the biblical account of the journey three wise men took to see baby Jesus, Son of God, under the divine guidance of a star. The author thoughtfully filled in gaps of the wise men's story with fictional details meant to entertain children. With beautifully detailed illustrations, this is a work of reality-based fiction children would surely enjoy, especially at Christmas.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the book's publisher in exchange for my honest review, for which I am very grateful.
Profile Image for JoAnn.
104 reviews
April 12, 2016
Love this: "Day by day you are going to get up, wash your face, and go ask for what you want. You are going to trust the process, regardless of what comes of it, because the process itself gives you life. The process keeps you engaged with what matters most to you, so you do not lose heart."
Profile Image for Carla.
8,140 reviews191 followers
June 29, 2018
This is a wonderful retelling of the biblical story of the arrival of the Wisemen to see the Baby Jesus. Using the Star of Bethlehem to guide them, they arrive at the home of Mary and Joseph to see the baby, Jesus Christ, Son of God. This is a fictional retelling of the story, but I like that it shows their arrival at the home, not the Inn as is often depicted in many Christmas Pageants and other Nativity stories. It begins with their leaving, speaking with King Herod, arrival and presentation of the gifts and their leaving and travelling another way. I loved the beautifully detailed illustrations and how they supported the story. I will definitely add this book to our Church Library as well as my family Christmas library. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
Profile Image for Richard.
2,455 reviews206 followers
September 27, 2021
The is part of the Christmas story; what Christians call the Nativity when Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

It is an expansion on the biblical account about Wise Men which because of the gifts given has been traditional believed to be three in number.

While it is faithful to the story outline the author has allowed imagination to weave an enchanting account of their visit, following the star.
In some ways it is what many have done as so little factual information is recorded in the gospel narratives.
That said, their journey was a long one; in search of a king. Yet finding a small baby with is humble family they fell down and worshipped him bestowing their gifts.
This a beautifully illustrated children’s book that sets the story within a biblical context and takes its title from the discernment gained from their encounter to return home via a different route.

The story is part of the desire to flesh out these characters.

I liked their desire to follow the star; their wisdom to journey with gifts and the speculation that a momentous happening had occurred. But the book is mostly the author’s own reasoning about these men and their encounter with King Herod. A different back story is given to each wise man, which in part is demeaning, but their antecedence isn’t really necessary, as their actions are the telling factor in their adventure. They followed but moving away from tradition the author has perhaps given them a back story of searchers more than wise. To her credit the author does reference this to the new insights they gain from beholding the infant child.

What is more telling still is their indifference to the monarch in Jerusalem whom they visited first. But rather than showing their true discernment and wisdom the author makes Herod more like a unkempt pantomime villain with halitosis anyone would see through.
Such ridicule is unnecessary and not funny given his rage later recorded in the New Testament.

Overall it will interest children and comes at the familiar story from a different perspective while remaining true to the recorded events in our bibles.
Fresh thoughts can build up our imaginations but I can think of better story books covering the Magi which are more endearing and magical. However when all is said, I wouldn’t hesitate in reading this story to my grandchildren.
Profile Image for Melody Schwarting.
2,254 reviews82 followers
August 16, 2023
An okay Epiphany story. Some weird references (Pine-Sol in the ancient near east???) and strange narrative choices (portraying the dreams is a missed opportunity). The rich symbolism of the gifts is left out ("all the wrong things...things he had no use for"), as if the magi were supposed to shop off the registry only. Jesus is portrayed as a baby rather than a toddler. Not a bad book by any means, and one I'd happily read with littles around Epiphany, but not a meaningful or thought-provoking take on the story of the magi.
Profile Image for James.
76 reviews3 followers
May 27, 2018
A book I savored slowly as the lectionary moved through the church. Barbara is a gift to the 21C Church. She instills hope that we Christ followers still have something profoundly good to offer to the world.
Profile Image for Liz.
101 reviews
September 13, 2018
I loved this. I hadn't read anything else of hers yet ... Just snippets of quotes in other writings.

Her words are often gentle, yet provocative, like a proper surgeon's scalpel ... you don't even know you're bleeding until the next page!
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,468 reviews8 followers
December 10, 2019
Everyone knows the three gifts of the Magi: gold, frankincense and myrrh. But did you know the three gifts of the Christ child in return? "For the scent and weight and skin of a baby...For this home and the love here...For a really great story." Each of these gifts surpassed the Magi's attempts to find the King by living on herbs, learning ancient languages or walking across hot coals. This timeless message hold true today. How many of us alter our diets, improve our intellect, and harm ourselves in the pursuit of self-fulfillment? Home Another Way reminds that it is often the alternate path that leads us to our true home. In the words of Matthew 10:39, "Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it." As you read Taylor's timeless Christmas story, may you discover the gifts of the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Profile Image for Edie.
1,272 reviews43 followers
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April 2, 2025
I love everything BBT so I started this book with eager anticipation. And then it was over. This is not even a novella. It is a very short story. It is probably a very good short story. But I was looking forward to spending several hours with Taylor's words, not minutes. Obviously, this is entirely my fault.
Profile Image for Michael Fitzgerald.
Author 1 book68 followers
December 6, 2018
There are many better choices for this story. Illustrations are nothing special. Way too much silly modernization in the text.
Profile Image for Faith.
2,396 reviews
May 19, 2018
This is the story of the wise men and their journey, following the star and putting their faith in something the didn't fully understand.



I like how this book looks at the wisemen, and imagines what kind of lives they were leaving behind to follow the star, as well as the comfort they were giving up. I liked how the book draws out that they left with more than they came with, even though everyone knows that they were the ones who brought gifts.



This is a beautifully illustrated book, with bright colors, and artwork that captures the eye. The storytelling felt off kilter at times, leaning more towards telling rather than showing, with an odd modern reference to Pine-Sol. There were fictional licenses taken, but I don't think that they detracted from the main point of the story. A lovely book, that shows a different side of the Christmas story, with plenty of thoughts to linger on after the final page is closed.





Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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."
Profile Image for Jill.
53 reviews4 followers
April 30, 2015
Would love to hear her preach in real life. A fantastic grouping of sermons. She is so easily understood, gives a good twist on conventional thinking and beliefs and is ok with asking open ended questions. Loved this book and have so many pages dog-eared and have written all over it! A must read for any person who ever gets in a pulpit to preach!
Profile Image for Rev. Linda.
665 reviews
September 25, 2015
In these sermons, Barabra Brown Taylor walks us through the church year from the expectancy of Advent to the fires of Pentecost and beyond. Her themes arise not only from a particular feast or fast, but out of the perennial questions of faith: doubt, grace, anger, and jubilation. These sermons are simply great stories well told.
Profile Image for Susy Miller.
289 reviews1 follower
December 21, 2020
Sweet, short story about Christmas. My first crack at this author...didn't realize this was a short story for children. Fun to listen to still.
Profile Image for LeAnne.
Author 13 books40 followers
February 24, 2019
I collect Christmas picture books and am currently working on a novel based on events following the Magi’s visit to Bethlehem, so when CT reviewed this, it was a no brainer. The pictures are soft and textured. Herod is deliciously disgusting, with his bad breathe and snake eyes. I like that his guards are shaking in fear of him. Herod was definitely that kind of guy. Besides the gifts the Magi brought to the baby (“all wrong, they could see now, things he had no use for”) I liked that they went away with gifts—the feel of a baby, the love of his home and a great story to tell.

Although the author begins with Scripture (Matthew 2:1-2), she takes a once-upon-a-time approach to the story. She puts the star in the eyes of the magi, saying it doesn’t matter if the star was real or in their imaginations. “The point was that something was calling them, and it was a tug they had been waiting for all their lives.” The baby is never named. Some of the language sounds more like a parable for adults about finding meaning in life than Bible content packaged for children. I see that she has an adult book by the same name, so that may explain it.

Deep in research myself, I could have wished for more authenticity. I can appreciate the humor of references to Pine-Sol and private chapels even though they don’t exactly fit the time period. But first century Jerusalem had a very recognizable skyline, yet there is no hint of that in the illustrations, nor do the costumes resemble any actual culture. The text describes a house in Bethlehem and what the neighbors are doing, but the illustration shows scattered buildings far out in the country, and although it is a house, the baby is still sleeping in a box of hay. This will make a pretty addition to my Christmas picture book collection, but I’m afraid I was hoping for something more.
Profile Image for Denise Forrest.
645 reviews7 followers
October 11, 2021
A beautifully illustrated story of the wise men’s search for Jesus. The story begins with the wise men searching for something beyond themselves. They set out for Jerusalem separately and meet up on the road to Herod’s palace. After an audience with Herod they make their way to Bethlehem and find Jesus in a small house with his parents.

I loved the start of this story and the reflections on the purpose of life. I found the language poetic and the descriptions thought provoking. I like the placing of Mary and Joseph in a house rather than the stable as it’s likely that the wise men took up to two years to complete their journey.

However, I didn’t like the wise men’s declaration that they had brought the wrong gifts. Yes, they could have brought more practical items, but the purpose of the gifts was to declare who Jesus was - a priest, a king, a saviour. In this version of the story, the wise men had no idea who they had met. They thanked Mary for what the baby had given them - cuddles, love and a great story… but that could have come from any baby. And there’s no mention of God in the story at all, and that is kind of the point.

I really wanted to love this book, and there were parts that I did love, but overall I just felt disappointed that it didn’t live up to expectations.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Profile Image for Rebecca Ainscow.
101 reviews16 followers
December 21, 2020
I have said this in reviews of Christian children's books before, but Ignatien Meditation is an ancient practice of engaging with the Bible. Lots of the backstories of Biblical characters are left a mystery. Imagining them is an ancient and perfectly valid tradition. It helps connect us to the text and can lead to deeper understanding. I thought that was well used here.

I especially loved this line, "The star was so bright that none of them could tell whether it was burning in the sky or their own imaginations, but they were wise enough to know it did not matter all that much." Exactly! A truly enlightened person never loses his or her sense of wonder.

There was something off about her King Herod descriptions, and it took reading other reviews for me to put my finger on it. He is just too cartoonishly evil. I mean...by all available evidence, he was rather terrible. But he wasn't terrible because he was fat and ugly. That seems a bit reductive. Granted, children's book antagonists will traditionally be ugly, but I just think his motives to remain the only king could have been better explained.
Profile Image for Kate.
893 reviews1 follower
September 15, 2021
This retelling of the wise men's visit to baby Jesus definitely had its ups and downs. In some ways, it followed the story most of us know, but then Ms. Taylor went off in weird directions, like describing the king's bad breath and lumpy body. Not really necessary and a little weird. It is also interesting that no names are used.

The illustrations are lively (and kudos for not having blonde, white Mary). I especially like the picture of the magi admiring and holding the baby.

Extra creepy points for this exchange when the wise men thanked the baby for the gifts he had given them:
"What are you talking about?" the baby's mother said, laughing.
"For the scent and weight and skin of a baby," said the first wise man.

I'm sorry, what?

My thanks to Flyaway Books and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Chrystal.
75 reviews4 followers
January 2, 2020
For anyone who is interested in a book about the First Christmas, this is NOT IT! The author has taken liberties with the biblical account of the birth of Jesus that are so fictionalized that it would make a child confused as to the real facts of the story. As I read it, I was constantly ticking off points to myself saying, “Nope, that’s wrong, no, no, no, “ etc... It is one thing to modernize a famous fairy tale, but this is the BIBLE! There were just too many details added, left out, or changed to make a story different that I couldn’t recommend it to anyone who wants to read about the true event. Let me recommend The Bible, Luke 2.

I was given a free, digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Tarissa.
1,683 reviews83 followers
November 14, 2020
"Home by Another Way" tells the story of the three wise men and how they found Baby Jesus. It tells of their visit with King Herod whom they met with on their journey to see Baby Jesus, and how they knew to avoid seeing King Herod again after discovering the best news in the world. They had to go home by another way.

(I'm a little disconcerted about why the smell of Pine-Sol was introduced to the story, but I guess that's okay... lol!)

Overall, I really enjoyed the picture book myself. The illustrations are tastefully done, containing all the right details and colors. Nicely done.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in return for an honest opinion.
1,142 reviews10 followers
August 4, 2018
Home by Another Way is Barbara Brown Taylor’s interpretation of one of the most well-known Bible events, the journey of the wisemen. She has taken the short Biblical narrative from Matthew fleshing it out with feeling and emotion. Told in a flowing prose and expressive illustration the story comes to life. Well done, this children’s book should become a favorite Christmas read aloud for many years to come.

The publisher through Net Galley provided an ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.
Profile Image for Jo Oehrlein.
6,363 reviews9 followers
August 7, 2018
An enchanting telling of the story of the 3 wise men and the baby Jesus.

It embellishes the story throughout, but in ways consistent with the Biblical story.

And, it doesn't have the 3 wise men arriving at the stable! Hooray!

The story ends with them going home another way. So, no enraged Herod afterwards, no massacre of the innocents, and no escape to Egypt. That makes it more child-friendly.

There are lots of words per page, so this isn't a story for a wiggly squirmy one, but for someone old enough to sit and listen.
Profile Image for Susie.
2,008 reviews24 followers
October 2, 2018
Thanks for NetGalley for an electronic copy. (The book did not display properly on my updated Mac, but was fully displayed on my old iPad.) I found myself reading scripture after reading this slightly different version of the Three Wise Men. According to some legends, they were possibly from three different locations, but it is not specified in the Bible. The idea of them each receiving the star light separately is intriguing. This book does a good job of depicting the sitting/lounging king as someone to avoid. An interesting idea, but I still prefer more literal versions.
Profile Image for Becky.
658 reviews5 followers
December 27, 2024
A well-known, well-loved story told from the perspective of the three kings, with beautiful illustrations that perfectly fit the mood of each page. As usual, Taylor brings her artistic phrasing and word choices into the story, making it a warm, festive book to enjoy with the entire family. It's short, easy to read, and captures the attention of just about any age. Taylor is always an excellent choice, and reading this picture book reminded me that I should pick up a few of her adult books in the coming year.
184 reviews
October 20, 2018
I really enjoyed this retelling of a beautiful story. I appreciated the fact that it was more accurate by showing the wise men finding the child in a house instead of a barn in a manger. By the time the wise men got to see Jesus he was closer to two years old. This was a clever, funny look at a story that still was tender and touching enough to make my husband cry :) I was blessed to receive this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
Profile Image for Sara Easterly.
Author 4 books24 followers
January 8, 2019
Stunningly illustrated, this book offers a unique take on the Christmas story by telling it from the perspective of the three wise men — who don’t know each other at first, but end up meeting on the road to Jerusalem after they all pursue the bright star lodged in their right eyes. I love that this book offers a diverse perspective and also portrays Mary as playful.

Reviewed as a roundup of my favorite holiday books at https://bookbonding.wordpress.com/201...
Profile Image for Michelle (Epically.Bookish).
185 reviews3 followers
December 7, 2018
I hate almost every children’s Christmas book. This one I did not hate. It at least portrays brown wise men and a brown baby Jesus. The perspective is from the wise men and is refreshingly authentic. I only wish Mary was highlighted more as I feel like she consistently gets slighted in Christmas story telling‘s.
Profile Image for Michael Heidle.
406 reviews2 followers
December 14, 2019
Marvelous and inspiring story!!

What a marvelous and inspiring story!!!!
Having just finished a group Bible study on the main (Matthew 2), this story book caught my eye and I was not disappointed!! It tells the story, along with some imaginative tid-bits to fill in the gaps, making a compelling story to inspire children of all ages!
I highly recommend it!!!
7,192 reviews86 followers
May 7, 2018
Another religious/chritianism story. This time it relate the story of the wise man in a slightly different version from the must know story. Too slow, didn't bring anything knew to a well tell story and the message/goal of this book is just very unclear to me...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews