Sunday Will Never Be the Same: A Rock & Roll Journalist Opens Her Ears to God

by Dawn Eden

Love and beauty. From when she was a little girl, Dawn Eden Goldstein knew she wanted those things that in them, somehow, she would find God. But her life s search led her away from the temples of her childhood Judaism to the music clubs of Greenwich Village, where she became an acolyte of a new rock & roll. Over the years she earned renown as a rock critic and historian, moving among some of popular music's biggest names, all the while straining to capture that transcendent love and beauty in their every note and lyric. 
Yet her longing only deepened; the hole in her heart only grew. God s voice was calling her, but first she needed ears to hear. 
In Sunday Will Never Be the Same , Goldstein ( The Thrill of the Chaste ) recounts her spiritual journey in beautifully wrought detail, mixing powerful accounts of trauma, healing, and epiphany with funny and poignant anecdotes from inside the music scene. It is the rare conversion story that delights as it inspires, amuses as it edifies and ultimately lays before the reader a lived testimony to the transforming grace of Christ.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Music, Catholic, Christian, Faith

256 pages, Paperback

Published March 15, 2019

Reviews

[Kevin Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this wonderful book in which Dawn tells the story of her journey to the Catholic Church. Told in vignettes that start in 1974 and end in 2009 - works very well. As a big fan of GK Chesterton, it was fun to see him prominently mentioned. Partway through I realized that the title of each chapter was a different song. And, as I bonus, there are some musicians (Curt Boettcher, etc.) that I now need to look up.

[Roxann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Dawn’s journey from Judaism to Catholicism and I look forward to reading more of her books. I believe anyone who is searching for God or has found God but is still figuring out the Christian walk will find her story relatable.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down for the life of me.. What an outright amazing modern day conversion story! The end felt a bit rushed and I was left wanting to read much more. Which is exactly why I'm giving this book a 5 star rating! I relate to Dawn on so many levels and I'm a cradle Catholic, so what does that tell you! This is the kind of book where you're left feeling like you've just read the personal diary of a beloved one that you recently discovered. I immediately felt drawn to Ms. Goldstein as if she was a long lost sister, a twin sister you never new about. I hope to follow more of her work. I had this overwhelming feeling of being nothing but proud of her.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

It helps to know Dawn Eden Goldstein's writing before reading this book. Not until page 214 out of 255, for instance, does she even arrive at the point at which she wants to become Catholic. Much of it is covers her interest in rock artists who are not household names. And it reads like a diary. She puts it all out right there: love, longing, heartbreak, etc.

If you can handle all that, you will enjoy this book. You will especially enjoy it if, like me, you are about her age. "I think we have found in Dawn a voice for our generation" I wrote way back in 2007 (https://bit.ly/2HARZia) and I was reminded of it as I read this.

You don't have to be a Jewish-Catholic rock historian New Yorker to recognize much of her journey. Her parents divorce in the 1970s, REM in the mid 90s (about the same time I saw them at the Meadows), the cameo by Tabitha Soren, the old suction cup microphone to record phone calls, the horrid "Faces of Death" video series, etc. She's as Gen X as it gets.

(I was personally struck by the importance of October, 1995 in her story. The same month was pivotal for me: seeing JPII in NJ, making my first contact in what would turn out to be a quarter-century of professional pro-life activism for me, and my first date with Leslie. I view the entirety of my life as taking place either before or after that one month.)

You will note familiar names from the Catholic world toward the end of the book, including a few surprises. (Spoiler alert, Archdiocese of Hartford friends: Fr. Boguslawski pops up a few times.)
Happily, it's a journey with a destination. And it ends in a perfect place: the loving arms of our Blessed Mother.

God bless you, Dawn. Thank you for sharing your story.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoy conversion stories but this one falls flat. She spends almost half the book discussing her journalist days but they’re not very interesting. I don’t know most of the old musicians she references and she seems to be so desperate for male attention that she appears a tad pathetic. I get the desire for love but it seems all consuming for her. I also feel she harshly cuts off her Mom seemingly out of nowhere. Then, perhaps due to the writing, she does a 180 and is this super conservative over the top blogger who eventually gets a doctorate in theology because a priest is calling her daily to persuade her to do it due to her amazing writing?! Anyhow…it definitely wasn’t my favourite by far though I’m happy she’s found peace and purpose.

[Dave MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is emotionally gripping and inspiring. Such an interesting life!

The author begins the book not as an adult recalling events but rather as a child chronically her story in a diary. This creates a very powerful, and relatable, emotional interaction with the reader. Much of it will make you smile. Her career as a rock journalist makes this book even more captivating as it will bring you down memory lane. However, it is her conversion story which is both unique and inspiring that should interest readers. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to be inspired by an enthralling conversion story that was hard to put down.

[MaryJeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a Catholic woman with an interest in music (though not necessarily rock and roll), I thought I’d really enjoy this story, but it just didn’t hang together. There was a lot of detail about musicians I didn’t know, and the religious anecdotes seemed like just that... anecdotes, rather than a journey.

Near the end, I was totally turned off by the insulting quote from her blog, “The Dawn Patrol.” No wonder she got fired.

The abrupt rift with her mother and stepfather seemingly came out of nowhere.

I’m glad Dawn found Jesus, but I don’t think she told her story very well.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching and Honest

While I don't share the same rock n roll enthusiasm that Dawn lived through I was able to relate to the inner struggles that she experienced through her life. The beautiful depiction of her conversion was a joy to read.

[Wes F · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heard an interview with the author on The Eric Metaxas Show and heard about this book. Very interesting testimony of how a Jewish background woman, caught up in the rock 'n roll scene and despairing of life at times, became a follower of Jesus.

[Rianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick and easy read.

Quick and easy read. Great if you love music :) a good distraction book and wonderful show of growth into the Faith. It had a very abrupt ending hence the 4 stars

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like listening to Goldstein’s interview on Catholic Answers so I was excited to read the book.
I was a little disappointed in it. I don’t have a particular affinity for music let alone 1960’s rock. But I know, I know, I should have expected that from the description.
I was also hoping for more insight into her conversion. I thought there would be more about her conversion.
The pace of the book really changed at the end. It didn’t feel complete.

[Bill Hennessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in four nights. I could not put it down the first night.

You'll love it. If you're thinking about becoming Catholic, you need to read this now.

[Fr. Edward Looney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dawn’s journey to the Catholic Church will inspire you. Along the way you will see how God was gently guiding her and revealing Himself to her.

[Christine Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've followed Dawn Eden Goldstein since her pre-Christian days, and I was thrilled to read the memoire of her faith journey.

[Briana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her story is relatable and I like the layout of how she told her story, by the end everything came full circle.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like it. It is more of an inside look at the music business that with God.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow start. Interesting book though. Glad I read this.