An Immovable Feast: How I Gave Up Spirituality for a Life of Religious Abundance

by Tyler Blanski

A winsome, beautifully written, page-turning read of a modern spiritual journey. This is the colorful story of one man's religious path that begins with a fundamentalist Baptist childhood to an adolescence in emergent church spirituality. He moves on through hipster years as a house painter and musician, then marries and enters a seminary in Wisconsin. After years of wearing a black cassock and preparing to be an Anglican priest, and his final bold decision of joining the Catholic Church, Tyler Blanski's tale does not reject suitors of religion, but seduces them.

An Immovable Feast is a profound love story told with humor, wisdom and bite. A fresh breeze blows through it, one that perhaps hasn't blown through Christian conversation in a long time. Blanski reminds us that religion is not dead because it is not mortal. It is the liturgy of heaven...on earth.

Genres: Catholic, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Faith, Religion, Memoir, Inspirational

288 pages, Hardcover

Published March 14, 2018

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best spiritual memoir of the millennial generation I’ve read. Tyler’s honesty shines through on every page as he details why just “being spiritual” was not enough. A memoir that anyone will be able to garner wisdom from.

[Katherine Grimm Bowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just lovely. It made me nostalgic for the Anglican Church, where I spent some of my twenties, and relieved to have followed a similar trajectory to Blanski, (back) to the Catholic Church we both love. Beautiful prose, and obscurely charming to read the work of a memoirist who is almost an exact contemporary of mine—a new experience for me. (And evidence I’m now old?)

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this was nicely written and moving at times, in the end it felt like a conversion story for Catholics and not a book I would want to give to someone who is searching. It was overly poetic, slowly moving, and bordering on dense, but perhaps that could have been the phase of life I was in when I read it (i.e. the worst reading slump of my life and just an overall lack of energy).

However, I did learn some new things and I read portions of it quickly and found that when I immersed myself in the book it was a better reading experience. At a time when my own conversion is causing me quite a bit of struggle and chaos, it was good to read about someone who sacrificed much more than I did to become Catholic.

[Grace Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his most recent work, Tyler Blanski gives an account of the series of conversions of heart that lead him from a "spiritual but not religious" evangelical faith to an Anglican seminary and ultimately to a life of religious abundance in the Catholic Church. Blanski relates this process with unflinching honesty, revealing to readers a life shaped by a gradual uncovering of truth and a pervading grace.

The book's strength lies in part with its relevancy to the current culture: Blanski finds himself disillusioned by a slur of contradictory ideas and an abbreviated Christianity that distances itself from any moral declarations. His longing for something deeper leads him to a rejection of organized religion and later into the heart of it.

I've been following Blanski's work since I discovered Mud & Poetry a few years ago, and this recent addition to his oeuvre does not disappoint. His ability to bring a scene to life and his masterful use of reason make for a compelling conversion story sure to capture wandering hearts.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tyler Blanski has written beautifully about his journey through the "beautiful mess" he thought life is into the truth of faith. Every step is chronicled with its joys and pains and Tyler explains the tools and teachers who brought him to the conclusions he has reached. Highly recommended for seekers of truth everywhere!

[Michael Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart soaring and soul deepening journey!

I loved hearing Tyler’s story! There were elements that echo my own journey becoming Catholic!
There is depth and rich reflection in these pages, which is unique. We live in times that lack self reflection and prolonged authenticity. You will find both here! Be blessed in the reading of this wonder filled book!

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too many words for the actual amount of content. There was a lot of intellectualism with little factual support. It was a real struggle for me to finish this book.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sure I'll be chewing on this one for awhile. There is much that I enjoyed and found compelling, but there were parts where I felt like the author's personality/voice turned me off. Granted, in any memoir, there are going to be parts where we connect with the author and parts where we don't. I think I was also sometimes frustrated by the selection of which events/thoughts/arguments to linger over and which ones to glide through (I'm not Orthodox, but I know just enough history to know that casually and momentarily asserting that the popes were right about the filioque is superficial at best).

Still, it was obviously a heartfelt examination of Blanski's faith journey, and he did wrestle with many thoughts and issues that I find relevant in my faith life right now.

[KieraK · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a bit flowery in the beginning and end but for someone really searching, there is a lot of meat presented in favor of Catholicism.

[Nick Kinsella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is it possible to read a conversion story not focused on an incredibly self centered, self impressed dude? Written well but knocking a star off for using the term "sodomy". Grow up.

[Kristyne Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm Catholic and I definitely think you need an education in Christianity to truly appreciate Blanski's conversion story.

I was given this book by my cousin because I had shared with her that I was finding it hard to continue to go to Mass. I had recently moved and had to leave my progressive Jesuit parish that felt like my first spiritual home for a parish that was extremely conservative where I felt, not only did I not belong, but that if anyone discovered my worldview I'd be treated as if the devil has ahold of me and I need to be converted. I was not dealing with the transition well, and I'm still not quite. I've struggled with being a Catholic for most of my adult life but like Blanski says in his epilogue "Catholicism is a thing that gets hold of you and does not let you go."

I felt touched and reaffirmed by Blanski's skilled Biblical explanations for Catholic beliefs and descriptions of what it means to be a follower of Christ as a Catholic. Though at some points I think he only went so far as to affirm some of his personal beliefs that I am still questioning. There were some sections that felt narrow (to which I'm sure he'd say "Jesus did say the path was narrow!") and do not allow for seekers or conversations. I felt at times in Blanski's writing that he had a need to be right, to do things the right where. I think that's fine, but I also think one then misses out on the beauty and Godliness of conversation, different worldviews, different beliefs, how God exists in another unique human being.

I am thankful for this book, and I am also thankful that the Spirit leads me shared human experiences that help further reveal God's nature to me.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blanski writes a raw and unflinchingly honest story of his (and his wife's) search for the Truth and their hearts finally settling within the Catholic Church. I was impressed, regardless of where he started, with the author's unwillingness to dismiss, cover over, or explain away logical inconsistencies that he found within his own theology or thinking (at least in the long run), and his bravery to search for answers at great personal cost. The details he gives about the evolution of his thought process on all of his "hang up issues" (i.e. Mary, the communion of saints, the Pope, liturgy, etc.) was extremely in-depth...eclipsing what I remember of Scott Hahn's in his book Rome Sweet Home. I was inspired by reading this to think more deeply about my faith and other aspects of my life in constant search of the true and beautiful.

[Shelly Weinhold · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly beautiful, poetic, and vulnerable spiritual memoir. I could not put this book down. Myself a convert to Catholicism from Protestant evangelicalism, I often had the uncanny feeling that I was reading my own spiritual memoir. I have felt re-challenged and refreshed as I was reminded of why I became Catholic in the first place, and Tyler often put words to experiences I have had that I could not myself articulate. I loved reading about both his and Brittany’s journey and struggle to find the one true Church, and I have felt strengthened in my resolve to keep journeying onward and upward into this great mystery that is the body of Christ, His Church.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful read. I would recommend this to anyone that has ever thought about the Catholic Church. The first four chapters were a little slow but chapters five and beyond were lively and compelling.

It was an amazing story of love and respect expressed by a young couple seeking happiness via a path toward God. In the chapters in which the couples interactions are discussed I could almost feel and taste his need of her as a partner.

I hope to see many more books produced by the life experiences of this couple.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good. I found myself confused in the timeline on occasion - it seemed like he backtracked or jumped around at times which made it more difficult to follow the arc of his conversion. I enjoyed a lot of his poetical language and thought he had some really great theological insights at various points throughout his conversion. Also added a few items to my to-read list... I can’t even begin to count the number of books he mentioned.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed and identified with Tyler's journey to the church, recognizing many of the cultural touchstones and the waystations of feelings -centered evangelicalism and wanting Anglicanism to be something it's not. The book felt a bit overwritten at times, but his style lent itself particularly well to the second half of the book. I especially appreciated his discussion of the Eucharist.

[Theresa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a superbly written book! The author masterfully writes of his reluctant journey into the Catholic Church. I highly recommend this book for all who claim to be "spiritual but not religious." I loved his writing of his marriage and fatherhood and how family life transformed him. I truly hope the author continues to write about faith. He is a master at the craft of writing.

[Salena · Rating 3 out of 5]

i annotated this for my mom for christmas and i have so many thoughts. the first 1/4 of this book was so incredibly well written and interesting, and then it became a book written by a man. i still learned a lot from reading this, but i would KILL to have it from a female perspective because as i was reading it was just so male

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I found this memoir to be interesting and well written, I often ended up disagreeing with the author. I don’t really think I was the target audience, but it did give me a perspective on why so many Protestant Christians of my generation choose to convert to Catholicism.

[Dan B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tyler Blanski had crafted a wonderful memoir and conversion story. So many of his stories reminded me of myself and my own circle of friends. If one is a Catholic and has ever been called a hipster, I think you will get something out of this book.

[Abigail Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

It felt like the author was too young and too new to the current phase of his religious journey to have written a memoir about it. There were certainly some beautifully written sections, though sometimes it felt overdone.

[Blaine Holbrooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a while to finish, but it was a great read. I learned a lot about the “spiritual but not religious” mindset. Lots of insight on the Anglican Church. The writing was a bit more poetic than I usually like, but it’s a solid and interesting conversion story nonetheless.

[L.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an exceptionally well written memoir and though I found myself having many disagreements with the author, I cannot deny his sincerity.

[Joy Derenthal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little disjointed, but overall beautiful, insightful, and inspiring.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I glad I read it, but it was pretty deep. Maybe a bit too much at times. Of course I liked it though. I love whenever anyone comes home!

[TJ Jakubowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. It’s an intriguing conversion conveyed with poetic genius and rich with allusions.

[Emily Lund · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me many chapters to get into this book, but the wisdom and writing in the last half were wonderful (and then I saw the necessity of the chapters in the first half). Glad I persevered.

[Christopher Pokorny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blanski gives an account of his unique and winsome spiritual journey to the Roman Catholic Church. In this tale, we get to “see the wizard behind the curtain,” learning his thought process as he is formed and molded as a young Baptist, an emergent college student, an Anglican seminarian and ultimately a Catholic. Simply beautiful.

[CelesteCreates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. Even for someone who has been Catholic all her life, it was such a great conversion story. I am thankful to the Lord for the gift of my Catholic faith.