I had such a great time briefly discussing Patti's research at the Wade (now called the Wade Center). How fun to think she may have opened a binder and read words I transcribed! Or perhaps she actually saw my own handwritten scrawl. There were times I could not decipher C. S. Lewis's words. Both he and his brother, Warnie, were born with a congenital defect of a missing joint in their thumb. I would type up a passage and leave a blank space where I couldn't decipher the words. Then later, sometimes with the help of other eyes, I would go back in and print the missing words. It was my favorite job ever, since I often would happen upon great insights in the correspondence I transcribed.
This book held a similar message to the one I gleaned from Ellen Vaughn's biography of Elizabeth Elliot. I think many people hear the name C. S. Lewis and imagine a saint on a pedestal. Neither Elizabeth nor "Jack" (as he was known) were saints. They were ordinary individuals with faults and quirks and a rare gift for sharing insights through their writing. In Becoming Mrs. Lewis, we learn how he acquired his nickname. We learn how and why he held Joy Davidman at a distance, despite a growing love building between them.
Joy, too, held a brilliance of writing ability. Jack described her work as "flaming." He was drawn to her like a moth to a flame. She started as a friend, someone with whom he could say, "What, you too?" I loved the descriptions of their playful, literary banter. Joy was an amazing woman. She knew several languages, had a photographic memory, could discourse on a variety of subjects, and was quite frank. Yet, as with Jack, she was not perfect. The book highlights how her passion for writing led to great difficulty settling into a "housewife" role. She suffered because of her poor choice in marrying another woman's husband, who turned out to be an alcoholic with a violent temper.
As a reader, you can see the train heading for a derailment. Why did Joy leave her wayward husband with her attractive, driven cousin to care for her sons while she took a trip to England for her health? Given her husband's abuse (and especially his demeaning comments against her writing), is it any wonder that she was drawn to a man like C. S. Lewis? And, given Lewis' background, it is easier to understand why he took so long to assert his love for Joy. This aspect gives the book tremendous pull, as the reader waits, with bated breath, for the two to come together.
I think my favorite endorsement for Patti's book is this blurb by the New York Journal of Books: "Patti Callahan took a character on the periphery, one who has historically taken a back seat to her male counterpart, and given her a fierce, passionate voice. For those fans of Lewis curious about the woman who inspired A Grief Observed, this book offers a convincing, fascinating glimpse into the private lives of two very remarkable individuals." Joy had a fierce, passionate voice in a time and era when women's voices went unheard. Her vehement determination to protect her sons was admirable. I'm grateful to Lewis for shepherding them after Joy's death. I'm also glad to have met Douglas while working at the Wade Collection. How sad to hear from Patti that Douglas is now dealing with dementia! How sad to have to tell her that Lyle (a beloved father figure for me) is also struggling with dementia. God carries us each through trials and triumphs. He uses the good and the bad in our lives for His glory. Praise God!
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