Book Review: Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I Love by Kate Bowler

 

Kate Bowler’s book, Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I Love was one of the first books I read this year. I gave it five stars though I felt it was a bit disjointed with the storytelling.

Moving on. I soaked in the uncertainties of life through Kate’s  journey of a diagnosis of stave IV colon cancer at the tender age of 35. She’s a history professor (theology) at Duke University, married to her high school sweetheart and has a darling two-year old son. There are many characters in this story, all very endearing, even the grumpy physicians. They were a perfect combination of family friends and colleagues surrounding a woman facing the end of her life with unconditional love, honesty and much humor. I felt a kindness in my heart for all of them. 

We ask why when things happen to us, this memoir reaches past the why and heads straight into what do I do, how hard do I live, how much love can I spend, and to whom, where do I go, how to I do it all the while working, navigating the health care system and traveling weekly for experimental cancer treatments.

We don’t know how we will spend our time left when a raw, violent diagnosis is handed to us, a death sentence, but Kate Bowler gives us a tiny blueprint, whether you believe in God or not (she is a Christian, a history professor in theology and has a few books on the subject) but you won’t feel inundated for salvation, that’s not what this book is about.  It’s about uncertainty and dealing with it smacked up in our face with nowhere to run.

I recommend it and will keep the five stars. I won’t forget her story any time soon so that alone, makes it a beloved book for me. Plus, I took notes, another five-star check mark. Lots of notes  and I have  them marked under “terrible diagnosis” in my journal. You know, for when that uncertainty is a certainty but not really.

I listened to this on Audible  - Kate Bowler narrates beautifully. 

Cheryl

Letting a book go and my first audio experience

There are periods in my life when I find a good book and can't seem to finish not because I don't like it but due to the fact that life is too busy for a book that deals with a mix of past, present, and future with a lot of different men with crazy names. This is one of those books in one of those times in my life. So I am putting it on hiatus and will get back to it another time. It is very good though. Just not now.

Here is what I am doing right now.:

My friend, Robin, is the audio book champion of our book group on FB. Never really interested in anything audible I brought up this idea to my husband who said to me with great gusto, let's do it. He has been wanting me to read this book, and the rest of the trilogy for ages. I said with tentative gusto, why not? We bought it and popped it on the Kindle Fire and sat back for a listen. And here is what I experienced the first time listening:

• I was nervous. How could anyone read that much and not slurp or sneeze or stutter or stammer. I need to know who these readers are. It's a part of the book world I do not know. I did not belong in that world and now I have a toe in that pond and need some information on how these readers do it.
• I had some mirth go through me when the reader was reading the female characters. After a chapter or two he was somewhat adept I was satisfied. I heard that other books have men and women reading back and forth, I am so not sure on that just yet. I may stick to the lone reader making things up with their  own "voices."
• He has a lovely voice, this reader. The kind that could lull you into a coma for five years. Do not take a sedative before you tackle this audio book.
• I knew I could not have read Neuromancer all by myself. I needed this help. I needed my husband to explain a few things as well as me needing the book to come alive. It's just one of those books. I needed it to be more real .. in voice..than in my lap reading silently turning the pages. 
• William Gibson is a genius. The book is genius. 
• I will go back for more audio books in the future. I think that this is a one of the best ideas anyone ever had and I DID NOT KNOW! 
• AND I can Pin while listening. I almost wish I knew how to knit.
• Plus it's great for your relationship, our coffee breaks are filled with much more chatter than ever before. Highly recommended.