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Reading Buechner: Exploring the Work of a Master Memoirist, Novelist, Theologian, and Preacher
Frederick Buechner is one of the most gifted writers of his generation, and his legacy casts a long shadow over Christian letters today. As a memoirist, he opened up an entirely new way to think about the genre. As a novelist, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer. And as a theologian and preacher, he pioneered the art of making theology accessible for a popular audience.
Yet for all Buechner's enormous influence, many readers today are unfamiliar with his work, or have read him only in one genre. In this book, Buechner expert Jeff Munroe presents a collection of the true "essentials" from across Buechner's diverse catalog, as well as an overview of Buechner's life and a discussion of the state of his literary legacy today.
Here is Buechner in all his complex glory, ready to delight and inspire again.
Yet for all Buechner's enormous influence, many readers today are unfamiliar with his work, or have read him only in one genre. In this book, Buechner expert Jeff Munroe presents a collection of the true "essentials" from across Buechner's diverse catalog, as well as an overview of Buechner's life and a discussion of the state of his literary legacy today.
Here is Buechner in all his complex glory, ready to delight and inspire again.
228 pages, Paperback
Published November 19, 2019
20 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Jeffrey Munroe
3 books2 followersJeffrey Munroe is executive vice president at Western Theological Seminary, where he also teaches writing. He was a charter member of the advisory board of the Buechner Institute of Faith and Culture, and is an ordained minister in the Reformed Church in America.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 10, 2021
Rarely does a book so fulfil the promises it makes. It purports to be an introduction to Buechner, and so it is. If you've read some of Buechner's works, it introduces you to others, and if you've read a lot of his works, it introduces you to some biographical information that provides helpful background. It spends a chapter each on ten "essential" Buechner books, but by essential we almost mean essentially typical, the Buechner-flavor maybe strongest in them. Munroe's tone throughout is a genial, knowledgeable, insightful tour guide; I liked his voice. Did get a bit fanboyish in the afterword. Short descriptions of all the books, not just the Ten Essentials, round out the book. I think I want to read one of them I haven't yet, an appropriate response to a book like this.
I do miss Buechner's writing, I do.
I do miss Buechner's writing, I do.
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June 10, 2020First impressions are usually lasting, and that was certainly the case with my introduction to Frederick Buechner, which came through a Luci Shaw poem. She quoted these nourishing words in a season of seeking intimacy with God: “Beat a trail to God long enough, and he will come to you on the trail you have beaten, bringing you the gift of himself.” Buechner (pronounced “Beek-ner”) offered the gift of the right words at the right time for me, as he seemed to be describing the spiritual pacing that comprised the prayer life of a busy mum.
Later, Buechner’s was the voice I heard connecting the dots between my “deep gladness” and the “world’s deep hunger” as I learned the nature of calling–in between vacuuming floors and making stacks of peanut butter sandwiches. When I discovered that Jeffrey Munroe had written a book featuring Buechner’s memoirs, novels, theological works, and his sermons, I knew it was time to dig in and become better acquainted with the author whose quotable words kept drawing me in.
In some ways, Buechner was formed by horror and pain: he was ten years old when his father committed suicide. Later, his brother passed away, and his daughter suffered from an ongoing struggle with anorexia nervosa. Munroe (his biographer) has also traveled through some deep sorrow and, in Reading Buechner, he asserts that tragedy, rather than turning him away from God, invited him to ask, along with his literary mentor, “What is God saying here?”–a timely question for all of us in a season of pandemic.
Buechner’s multi-genre giftedness encourages a reader to follow a theme from his fiction into his more theological writing, and then to connect the dots to his life story, so generously poured out in seven works of memoir. All Buechner’s work challenges me. As a conservative evangelical, I wish he would color inside the theological lines on points like the sovereignty of God. And, having raised four rowdy boys, I should be immune to the stomach-turning preponderance of bodily fluids and functions and the coarse observations of the characters in Buechner’s fiction. After all, in Godric’s and Brendan’s Middle Ages, everyone was terminal and toothless by the age of forty (and illiterate to boot), so what else was there to talk about?
Whether you’ve been reading Buechner all your life, or, like me, you’ve been bumping into his quotable words and thinking it’s time to get better acquainted, Reading Buechner is an enlightening and accessible celebration of the richness of Buechner’s work. When my sons were born, and now as we welcome grandchildren into our family and into the world, Frederick Buechner’s writing offers a framework to support my embrace of paradox–and I continue to harvest his words these days to express my heart as a believing grandmother who longs to protect and nurture, but has learned some things about the long shadow of pain:
Here is the world.
Beautiful and terrible things will happen.
Don’t be afraid.”
Many thanks to InterVarsity Press for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which, of course, is offered freely and with honesty.
Later, Buechner’s was the voice I heard connecting the dots between my “deep gladness” and the “world’s deep hunger” as I learned the nature of calling–in between vacuuming floors and making stacks of peanut butter sandwiches. When I discovered that Jeffrey Munroe had written a book featuring Buechner’s memoirs, novels, theological works, and his sermons, I knew it was time to dig in and become better acquainted with the author whose quotable words kept drawing me in.
In some ways, Buechner was formed by horror and pain: he was ten years old when his father committed suicide. Later, his brother passed away, and his daughter suffered from an ongoing struggle with anorexia nervosa. Munroe (his biographer) has also traveled through some deep sorrow and, in Reading Buechner, he asserts that tragedy, rather than turning him away from God, invited him to ask, along with his literary mentor, “What is God saying here?”–a timely question for all of us in a season of pandemic.
Buechner’s multi-genre giftedness encourages a reader to follow a theme from his fiction into his more theological writing, and then to connect the dots to his life story, so generously poured out in seven works of memoir. All Buechner’s work challenges me. As a conservative evangelical, I wish he would color inside the theological lines on points like the sovereignty of God. And, having raised four rowdy boys, I should be immune to the stomach-turning preponderance of bodily fluids and functions and the coarse observations of the characters in Buechner’s fiction. After all, in Godric’s and Brendan’s Middle Ages, everyone was terminal and toothless by the age of forty (and illiterate to boot), so what else was there to talk about?
Whether you’ve been reading Buechner all your life, or, like me, you’ve been bumping into his quotable words and thinking it’s time to get better acquainted, Reading Buechner is an enlightening and accessible celebration of the richness of Buechner’s work. When my sons were born, and now as we welcome grandchildren into our family and into the world, Frederick Buechner’s writing offers a framework to support my embrace of paradox–and I continue to harvest his words these days to express my heart as a believing grandmother who longs to protect and nurture, but has learned some things about the long shadow of pain:
Here is the world.
Beautiful and terrible things will happen.
Don’t be afraid.”
Many thanks to InterVarsity Press for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which, of course, is offered freely and with honesty.
January 28, 2020
This book is what it says it is -- a book about reading the works of Fredrick Buechner. It has a good index and annotated bibliography, but it's a book you can really read as a book, not just use as a reference. The author reviews Buechner's life experiences and influences (drawing primarily but not exclusively on the memoirs and personal comments in his theological works and sermons), traces themes that weave throughout his work (grace, beauty, suicide, doubt), and helps the reader appreciate what Buechner has to say. Ten of the eleven numbered chapters explore ten specific books drawn from the four genres, books that Munroe says are "essential." By starting with chapters about each of four memoirs he provides a good overview of Buechner's life and work and this gives the book a good foundation. The whole thing holds together well as both a biography and what I guess you'd call literary commentary.
This book helped me appreciate why people who read the memoirs don't know what to make of the fiction, and vice versa, and motivated me to pick of some of those I've passed by. It helps to see the books of popular theology and sermons, like the memoirs, as directed toward a Christian audience, though sections of those and certainly the fiction... well, they don't make it into the Christian bookstore or get shelved with inspirational fiction. They are literature, and some of it pretty earthy and shocking. But that was on purpose. He may have been an ordained minister (something he had reason to regret, as a writer) but he was writing more to the doubters, intellectuals, and post-Christians like the anti-establishment students he taught as head of the religion department and "school minister" for a boy's academy starting in 1958.
Munroe definitely sees Buechner as a master and a hero; this is no expose or even really a work of literary criticism. But he recognizes Buechner's limitations and acknowledges weaker and stronger work, as well.
In recent years I've read a number of books and articles about well-known and influential writers that seem to deconstruct their legacies and undermine what they had to say for themselves (in some cases, raising serious doubts about the veracity of their memoirs). “Prairie Fires," about Laura Ingalls Wilder, was perhaps the most disturbing. (Laura seems to have seriously reshaped her life-story to support an agenda.) But at least as Munroe sees it, Buechner is an exception, a person who writes about and/or from his own experience with exceptional clarity =and= integrity. Makes me want to read and reread more of it.
Per Munroe, the "Essentials" are:
The Sacred Journey
Now and Then
Telling Secrets
The Eyes of the Heart
Godric
Son of Laughter
Wishful Thinking
Peculiar Treasures
Telling the Truth
Secrets in the Dark
This book helped me appreciate why people who read the memoirs don't know what to make of the fiction, and vice versa, and motivated me to pick of some of those I've passed by. It helps to see the books of popular theology and sermons, like the memoirs, as directed toward a Christian audience, though sections of those and certainly the fiction... well, they don't make it into the Christian bookstore or get shelved with inspirational fiction. They are literature, and some of it pretty earthy and shocking. But that was on purpose. He may have been an ordained minister (something he had reason to regret, as a writer) but he was writing more to the doubters, intellectuals, and post-Christians like the anti-establishment students he taught as head of the religion department and "school minister" for a boy's academy starting in 1958.
Munroe definitely sees Buechner as a master and a hero; this is no expose or even really a work of literary criticism. But he recognizes Buechner's limitations and acknowledges weaker and stronger work, as well.
In recent years I've read a number of books and articles about well-known and influential writers that seem to deconstruct their legacies and undermine what they had to say for themselves (in some cases, raising serious doubts about the veracity of their memoirs). “Prairie Fires," about Laura Ingalls Wilder, was perhaps the most disturbing. (Laura seems to have seriously reshaped her life-story to support an agenda.) But at least as Munroe sees it, Buechner is an exception, a person who writes about and/or from his own experience with exceptional clarity =and= integrity. Makes me want to read and reread more of it.
Per Munroe, the "Essentials" are:
The Sacred Journey
Now and Then
Telling Secrets
The Eyes of the Heart
Godric
Son of Laughter
Wishful Thinking
Peculiar Treasures
Telling the Truth
Secrets in the Dark
December 8, 2019
Storytelling is a gift. I'm not sure I have it, but I'm always intrigued when I stumble across an author or speaker who can capture my attention. I have heard for many years that Frederick Buechner is one of those master raconteurs. So I was interested when Jeffrey Munroe, executive vice president at Western Theological Seminary and a charter member of the advisory board of the Buechner Institute of Faith and Culture, put forth this new 232-page paperback "Reading Buechner: Exploring the Master Memoirist, Novelist, Theologian, and Preacher." It's an easy read, delving into the life, times, trauma and lyrical abilities of Frederick Buechner, and giving dabblers and fans alike a fresh, factual portrait written by an enthusiastic admirer.
Munroe walks through Buechner's works both chronologically and systematically. He comes at his task in waves: Memoirist, Novelist, Theologian, and finally, Preacher - exactly as listed in the book's subtitle. Yet while wading us through this fourfold swell, the author weaves in details of Buechner's life and how they affected his writings. He simultaneously gives brief surveys of some of the subject's major works. This volume is peppered with Buechner one-liners, and complete paragraphs, to give the uninitiated a sizable taste of Buechner's skill, as well as to make Munroe's various points. One of the assets of this manuscript is that it lays out for readers an idea of the intended audience Buechner wrote for in his varied genres. For example, Mueller claims that the "intended audience for the fiction has always been the religiously indifferent reader" (74), whereas his popular theological works were meant for "a wide, popular (nonacademic) audience" (109). I always find this type of knowledgeable decoding helpful, especially when reading someone whose divergent styles are different strokes for different folks.
Many of my friends have read Frederick Buechner to great advantage. For myself, I've only read one of his volumes and that was in the middle of the 1980s. I couldn't tell you anything about the book, other than recalling a scene portraying Abraham, Sarah, and Yahweh laughing. I mentioned it to an Air Force chaplain who quickly asked if he could borrow my copy and would return it swiftly. I haven't seen it since, and never gave it a second thought. But as a result of reading this book, my interest in Buechner is piqued and my motivation to take up some of his volumes has resurfaced. I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to IVP who happily sent a copy of the book used for this review, at my request. They made not demands on me other than an honest assessment. I have fulfilled my obligation anon, and present it to you.
Munroe walks through Buechner's works both chronologically and systematically. He comes at his task in waves: Memoirist, Novelist, Theologian, and finally, Preacher - exactly as listed in the book's subtitle. Yet while wading us through this fourfold swell, the author weaves in details of Buechner's life and how they affected his writings. He simultaneously gives brief surveys of some of the subject's major works. This volume is peppered with Buechner one-liners, and complete paragraphs, to give the uninitiated a sizable taste of Buechner's skill, as well as to make Munroe's various points. One of the assets of this manuscript is that it lays out for readers an idea of the intended audience Buechner wrote for in his varied genres. For example, Mueller claims that the "intended audience for the fiction has always been the religiously indifferent reader" (74), whereas his popular theological works were meant for "a wide, popular (nonacademic) audience" (109). I always find this type of knowledgeable decoding helpful, especially when reading someone whose divergent styles are different strokes for different folks.
Many of my friends have read Frederick Buechner to great advantage. For myself, I've only read one of his volumes and that was in the middle of the 1980s. I couldn't tell you anything about the book, other than recalling a scene portraying Abraham, Sarah, and Yahweh laughing. I mentioned it to an Air Force chaplain who quickly asked if he could borrow my copy and would return it swiftly. I haven't seen it since, and never gave it a second thought. But as a result of reading this book, my interest in Buechner is piqued and my motivation to take up some of his volumes has resurfaced. I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to IVP who happily sent a copy of the book used for this review, at my request. They made not demands on me other than an honest assessment. I have fulfilled my obligation anon, and present it to you.
December 13, 2021
I’ve never read Buechner before, but in late 2020, I was using a Buechner quote for my calligraphy Christmas card and came across a review of this new book about (not by) him. The review pulled me in like a magnet and I asked and received it for Christmas. The book by Munroe is so clearly and evocatively written that I felt like I gained a friend in Buechner. It became one of my most significant reads of the year.
For anyone unfamiliar with Buechner, Jeffrey Munroe describes him as perhaps the greatest spiritual writer of the last half of the 20th century, and the godfather of the spiritual memoir movement. The subtitle sums the book up well — “Exploring the Work of a Master Memoirist, Novelist, Theologian, and Preacher”. As a memoirist, his theme is “listen to your life”. Look for a plot that your life may have, what he calls the “subterranean presence of grace”; how God is moving and speaking in even the ordinary moments. As a novelist, his underlying question is “Is it possible to believe despite all the evidence to the contrary?” As for being a theologian, Munroe describes him as a “popular theologian”, that is, he doesn’t write theology academically but for broad audiences. His overriding question is, “How do we revive tired, churchy language?” Munroe also says Buechner is one of our great preachers. Buechner says the congregation really only has one question on their minds: “Is it true?” Could this story of God possibly be true? To ask and explore this question takes courage as a preacher.
In our polarized and complicated world, memoirs provide equipment for living. They show us how others have found their way and made sense of their lives. How do we deal with trauma? Buechner’s father died by suicide when Buechner was only 10, and he has been described as being a “good steward of his pain”.
Munroe has organized the book by describing the best essential books to help you get started. Since Buechner has 40 books, it’s a helpful overview.
For anyone unfamiliar with Buechner, Jeffrey Munroe describes him as perhaps the greatest spiritual writer of the last half of the 20th century, and the godfather of the spiritual memoir movement. The subtitle sums the book up well — “Exploring the Work of a Master Memoirist, Novelist, Theologian, and Preacher”. As a memoirist, his theme is “listen to your life”. Look for a plot that your life may have, what he calls the “subterranean presence of grace”; how God is moving and speaking in even the ordinary moments. As a novelist, his underlying question is “Is it possible to believe despite all the evidence to the contrary?” As for being a theologian, Munroe describes him as a “popular theologian”, that is, he doesn’t write theology academically but for broad audiences. His overriding question is, “How do we revive tired, churchy language?” Munroe also says Buechner is one of our great preachers. Buechner says the congregation really only has one question on their minds: “Is it true?” Could this story of God possibly be true? To ask and explore this question takes courage as a preacher.
In our polarized and complicated world, memoirs provide equipment for living. They show us how others have found their way and made sense of their lives. How do we deal with trauma? Buechner’s father died by suicide when Buechner was only 10, and he has been described as being a “good steward of his pain”.
Munroe has organized the book by describing the best essential books to help you get started. Since Buechner has 40 books, it’s a helpful overview.
June 24, 2021
I can’t remember the first time I heard of Buechner, but it was probably from a quote from a Eugene Peterson book. Soon after that I purchased his book “The Alphabet of Grace” and enjoyed it, but it felt like I was missing something essential about Buechner; however, there didn’t seem to be a clear way forward. How do you begin to understand such a prolific multi-genre writer?
Munroe’s book was just the book I needed as a brief introduction to Buechner. Two things are particularly helpful about the book:
(1) In the process of describing Buechner’s work as a memorial, Monroe sketches out a brief biography of the writer’s life by pulling from his various works. This made me feel like I have a sense of who he is without having to read all his memoirs.
(2) Organizing the book around “essential” works (and providing a detailed annotated bibliography in the appendix) was extremely helpful. I now have a clear sense of what I want to explore next.
Although many of Buechner’s works interest me, here are the ones that stand out:
-Godric
-Wishful Thinking
-Telling the Truth
-Secrets in the Dark
I look forward to reading these (and perhaps others) in the years to come.
Munroe’s book was just the book I needed as a brief introduction to Buechner. Two things are particularly helpful about the book:
(1) In the process of describing Buechner’s work as a memorial, Monroe sketches out a brief biography of the writer’s life by pulling from his various works. This made me feel like I have a sense of who he is without having to read all his memoirs.
(2) Organizing the book around “essential” works (and providing a detailed annotated bibliography in the appendix) was extremely helpful. I now have a clear sense of what I want to explore next.
Although many of Buechner’s works interest me, here are the ones that stand out:
-Godric
-Wishful Thinking
-Telling the Truth
-Secrets in the Dark
I look forward to reading these (and perhaps others) in the years to come.
September 9, 2022
This book sat on my shelf for months, awaiting my attention. And then, a couple of weeks ago Buechner died at the age of 96, which motivated me to read it. Munroe does a stunning job of capturing what Made Buechner such a special writer, thinker, and preacher. Buechner, for me, is in that class with Merton and Nouwen and the like, who can express with such gentleness and honesty what it is about the faith that strikes the heart so - the aspects of faith that shoot through the places where reason and proposition falls short. In many ways, Buechner's writing defies categorization, and Munroe captures that essence perfectly. It's a stellar book not only because it describes Buechner's life and work so well, but because it does so with the same affectionate quality that is found in Buechner's own writing. A wonderful book and a perfect introduction to Buecher's work.
March 8, 2022
This book is a beautiful and at times profoundly moving introduction to the life and writings of Frederick Buechner. As Munroe presents him, Buechner is the honest and committed Christian most of us would want to encounter more often, yet also the kind of complex human being we are probably too afraid of becoming ourselves.
The wisdom Munroe gleans from Buechner’s preaching practices alone is worth the price of the book, and, dare I say, more helpful than some of the advice given in standard homiletical resources. I did not expect (basically all sections of) this book to be such a delight.
The wisdom Munroe gleans from Buechner’s preaching practices alone is worth the price of the book, and, dare I say, more helpful than some of the advice given in standard homiletical resources. I did not expect (basically all sections of) this book to be such a delight.
May 1, 2021
I was already a fan of Frederick Buechner before reading this book, but now I'm an even bigger fan. It's time to re-read a couple of the books I already own plus add to my meager library.
February 6, 2020
A wonderful summation of the life and writings of Frederick Buechner. Though I have not read much of Buechner's work, I have grown to admire the depth of his story and faith through Jeff Munroe's writings. I now have the inkling to go check out every Buechner book I can find so that I, too, might experience the whimsy, joy, doubt, and faith of Buechner.
December 15, 2019
Buechner is one of the better memoirist/novelist/theologian/preachers of our time. It’s rare to find someone who fires through on four pistons but that’s Buechner for you!
If you’re like me, you might’ve read his stuff in one or two categories. This book reads like a biography of sorts and covers some of the “essentials” the author has identified and the themes that come out of them.
If you’re like me, you might’ve read his stuff in one or two categories. This book reads like a biography of sorts and covers some of the “essentials” the author has identified and the themes that come out of them.
November 21, 2019
Great overview of Buechner's work. Helpful for those who know next to nothing about Buechner, but also instructive for Buechner fans.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews