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Speak Its Name
A new year at the University of Stancester, and Lydia Hawkins is trying to balance the demands of her studies with her responsibilities as an officer for the Christian Fellowship. Her to make sure all the Christians in her hall stay on the straight and narrow, and to convert the remaining residents if possible. To pass her second year. And to ensure a certain secret stays very secret indeed.
When she encounters the eccentric, ecumenical student household at 27 Alma Road, Lydia is forced to expand her assumptions about who's a Christian to include radical Quaker activist Becky, bells-and-smells bus-spotter Peter, and out (bisexual) and proud (Methodist) Colette. As the year unfolds, Lydia discovers that there are more ways to be Christian - and more ways to be herself - than she had ever imagined.
Then a disgruntled member of the Catholic Society starts asking whether the Christian Fellowship is really as Christian as it claims to be, and Lydia finds herself at the centre of a row that will reach far beyond the campus. Speak Its Name explores what happens when faith, love and politics mix and explode.
When she encounters the eccentric, ecumenical student household at 27 Alma Road, Lydia is forced to expand her assumptions about who's a Christian to include radical Quaker activist Becky, bells-and-smells bus-spotter Peter, and out (bisexual) and proud (Methodist) Colette. As the year unfolds, Lydia discovers that there are more ways to be Christian - and more ways to be herself - than she had ever imagined.
Then a disgruntled member of the Catholic Society starts asking whether the Christian Fellowship is really as Christian as it claims to be, and Lydia finds herself at the centre of a row that will reach far beyond the campus. Speak Its Name explores what happens when faith, love and politics mix and explode.
278 pages, Paperback
Published February 2, 2016
About the author
Kathleen Jowitt
8 books22 followersKathleen Jowitt was born in Winchester and grew up deep in the Welsh Marches and, subsequently, on the Isle of Wight. After completing her undergraduate degree in English Literature at the University of Exeter she moved to Guildford and found herself working for a major trade union.
She now lives in Cambridgeshire, works in London, and writes on the train. Her stories are about people who sort their own heads out and learn that they are, on the whole, not nearly such terrible human beings as they thought they were. Speak Its Name (2016) explores Christianity and sexual identity in the context of student life and politics, and was the first self-published novel ever shortlisted for the Betty Trask Prize. Her new book, A Spoke in the Wheel, was published in May 2018 and looks at physical capacity, the social model of disability, acceptance, redemption, and integrity.
She now lives in Cambridgeshire, works in London, and writes on the train. Her stories are about people who sort their own heads out and learn that they are, on the whole, not nearly such terrible human beings as they thought they were. Speak Its Name (2016) explores Christianity and sexual identity in the context of student life and politics, and was the first self-published novel ever shortlisted for the Betty Trask Prize. Her new book, A Spoke in the Wheel, was published in May 2018 and looks at physical capacity, the social model of disability, acceptance, redemption, and integrity.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 8, 2018
'Speak its name' follow a couple of years in the campus life of Lydia, an English undergraduate student at the fictional University of Stancester in England. Lydia is as an Evangelical Christian struggling with her own sexuality. As a practising Christian, can she still feel welcome in her church if she comes out as a lesbian?
This novel present two main themes. One is the relationship - often more political than religious - between different Christian churches in university life. The other is the personal struggle of Lydia who wants to be accepted as both a Christian and a lesbian by her church and her family and friends. The story gives an interesting insight into the core of beliefs of the different Christian churches such as Roman Catholic, Anglican, Evangelical, among others. It shows what they have in common and mostly what they disagree with and how their own religions' teaching of loving each other usually develops into bigotry and intolerance. This is not an easy read, sometimes the book takes the shape of a non-fictional essay about church politics in the context of a university campus. At moments for me it felt longer than necessary. However, it's well written and informative for an outsider. Regarding the main character's story, Lydia is a believable and lovable young woman struggling with accepting her sexuality first, and then fighting for acceptance in her religious group and family. Any queer reader, religious or not, can relate to her identity struggle. Far from being a romance, her relationship with her girlfriend Colette is one of support and redemption, a companion in the hardships of life. 'Speak its name' is a book about love in all its forms and shapes and a call for more tolerance and acceptance of minorities specially in a religious context.
Overall, a well written book recommended if you are interested in religion and sexual identity. 4 stars.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at
www.lezreviewbooks.com
This novel present two main themes. One is the relationship - often more political than religious - between different Christian churches in university life. The other is the personal struggle of Lydia who wants to be accepted as both a Christian and a lesbian by her church and her family and friends. The story gives an interesting insight into the core of beliefs of the different Christian churches such as Roman Catholic, Anglican, Evangelical, among others. It shows what they have in common and mostly what they disagree with and how their own religions' teaching of loving each other usually develops into bigotry and intolerance. This is not an easy read, sometimes the book takes the shape of a non-fictional essay about church politics in the context of a university campus. At moments for me it felt longer than necessary. However, it's well written and informative for an outsider. Regarding the main character's story, Lydia is a believable and lovable young woman struggling with accepting her sexuality first, and then fighting for acceptance in her religious group and family. Any queer reader, religious or not, can relate to her identity struggle. Far from being a romance, her relationship with her girlfriend Colette is one of support and redemption, a companion in the hardships of life. 'Speak its name' is a book about love in all its forms and shapes and a call for more tolerance and acceptance of minorities specially in a religious context.
Overall, a well written book recommended if you are interested in religion and sexual identity. 4 stars.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at
www.lezreviewbooks.com
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August 15, 2017When I saw the blurb for this book—about a gay and fundamentalist character—I had to read it. Though once I downloaded it, I didn’t open it for a while, in trepidation. Too many stories especially in science fiction and fantasy, my favorite genres, tend to depict persons of faith (especially the more conservative ones) as hatemongers and venal, child-molesting rapists, and at best as stupid hypocrites, that I was afraid this book might go there as well.
I should have, um, had faith.
Jowitt does two things in this novel that stood out for me. First, she depicts people of faith as having faith—this is something that secular writers trying to be fair frequently don’t understand, and so they write characters of faith who at the first setback toss the faith out the window. Faith is meant to support the believer through the rough times, though the person might struggle with it.
The second thing is, she sympathetically wrote her characters as human beings striving to understand what is right, within a Christian context. (And she also includes non-believers with just as much sympathy as believers, though the book is not about them.) For example, is the Bible literal truth, is it merely a historical record, is it the record of one tribe’s evolving relationship with God, or is it mainly allegory full of symbolic lessons? There are committed Christians who approach the Bible as all of these.
Because this book is largely about Christian characters, there is a great deal of ecumenical discussion. Jowitt does a terrific job of depicting complex people all working toward understanding, even when they get angry. And she gives us those who react with anger at anything that questions the tight box of order in which they live, and the tragedy ensuing when there cannot be acceptance, or even understanding.
The exact time of the book seems to be deliberately fuzzy, in that people have cell phones, but gay marriage is not legal. I’m not sure why Jowitt chose to smudge the time—perhaps to keep the book from becoming quickly outdated, or perhaps to keep the focus on the evolving relationships of the characters with their expressions of faith and with one another.
I did think that the wild enthusiasm toward the end after a speech before a couple hundred evangelicals was a tad unrealistic, but I could see where Jowitt was going with the idea, and it was quite right to end her book on a note of hope.
I should have, um, had faith.
Jowitt does two things in this novel that stood out for me. First, she depicts people of faith as having faith—this is something that secular writers trying to be fair frequently don’t understand, and so they write characters of faith who at the first setback toss the faith out the window. Faith is meant to support the believer through the rough times, though the person might struggle with it.
The second thing is, she sympathetically wrote her characters as human beings striving to understand what is right, within a Christian context. (And she also includes non-believers with just as much sympathy as believers, though the book is not about them.) For example, is the Bible literal truth, is it merely a historical record, is it the record of one tribe’s evolving relationship with God, or is it mainly allegory full of symbolic lessons? There are committed Christians who approach the Bible as all of these.
Because this book is largely about Christian characters, there is a great deal of ecumenical discussion. Jowitt does a terrific job of depicting complex people all working toward understanding, even when they get angry. And she gives us those who react with anger at anything that questions the tight box of order in which they live, and the tragedy ensuing when there cannot be acceptance, or even understanding.
The exact time of the book seems to be deliberately fuzzy, in that people have cell phones, but gay marriage is not legal. I’m not sure why Jowitt chose to smudge the time—perhaps to keep the book from becoming quickly outdated, or perhaps to keep the focus on the evolving relationships of the characters with their expressions of faith and with one another.
I did think that the wild enthusiasm toward the end after a speech before a couple hundred evangelicals was a tad unrealistic, but I could see where Jowitt was going with the idea, and it was quite right to end her book on a note of hope.
May 25, 2023
I’m going to start off and say that I’m not sure this book appeals broadly, as it’s basically all hermeneutic discussions between different Christian groups on a university campus, and, well, I’m not sure the audience for Christian theological debates is interesting to most people. Lucky I’m not most people, especially when the main focus of these debates focus on the Christian stance homosexuality. And if you’re not new here, you know I love this stuff because I’m still trying to process my sexuality with my Christian upbringing. If this is a subject that interests you, then I can recommend this book. If it’s not, steer clear because you can’t escape it.
I really enjoyed this. I liked the diversity of Christian perspectives Kathleen Jowitt provides here. I was very much into the romance, too. But there was one thing that never made sense to me. I’m not English but I’ve lived there during a semester abroad. And, well, I don’t understand the setting of this novel. It takes place at the fictional(?) and non-religious Stancester University. Stancester seems to have a vast population of Christian students—big enough that there is a really organized student organization to manage all the various denominations and for there to be [dormintory] hall representatives which facilitate weekly devotionals with students. And I guess I didn’t find that believable. Is England awash with a significant amount of young Christians? That’s not the England I experienced or even read about, so that was odd.
Once I could ignore all that, I settled into the novel—into the philosophy that Jowitt wants her readers to grapple with. Oh, plus a very nice romance to go along with it.
I really enjoyed this. I liked the diversity of Christian perspectives Kathleen Jowitt provides here. I was very much into the romance, too. But there was one thing that never made sense to me. I’m not English but I’ve lived there during a semester abroad. And, well, I don’t understand the setting of this novel. It takes place at the fictional(?) and non-religious Stancester University. Stancester seems to have a vast population of Christian students—big enough that there is a really organized student organization to manage all the various denominations and for there to be [dormintory] hall representatives which facilitate weekly devotionals with students. And I guess I didn’t find that believable. Is England awash with a significant amount of young Christians? That’s not the England I experienced or even read about, so that was odd.
Once I could ignore all that, I settled into the novel—into the philosophy that Jowitt wants her readers to grapple with. Oh, plus a very nice romance to go along with it.
October 4, 2018
This was a really good, intriguing story.
It focuses on religion and sexuality which was quite the combination and tackled the conflict faced by Lydia, a gay Christian.
Lydia is on quite the journey, discovering that it’s ok to be who she is both in her faith and sexuality, and how difficult acceptance of these two things together can be. She faces many obstacles on this journey and has the help of Colette and some other wonderful friends along the way.
I liked how this book made me think, the happy moments and the sadder moments and just how well it was all put together to give insight into a world so many are probably unaware of. A great read that I would recommend.
It focuses on religion and sexuality which was quite the combination and tackled the conflict faced by Lydia, a gay Christian.
Lydia is on quite the journey, discovering that it’s ok to be who she is both in her faith and sexuality, and how difficult acceptance of these two things together can be. She faces many obstacles on this journey and has the help of Colette and some other wonderful friends along the way.
I liked how this book made me think, the happy moments and the sadder moments and just how well it was all put together to give insight into a world so many are probably unaware of. A great read that I would recommend.
March 12, 2021
Written very much for a niche market, but as a LGBT evangelical Christian, who was once a student, I think I am exactly the sort of person who would appreciate this book. And I did, very much.
It's about student life, it's about coming out, but also to a large extent it's about the (sad but true) way that Christians divide themselves up into so many different overlapping factions, groupings that are so diverse as to often be mutually unintelligible. And I have known people just like every major character in this book.
Its well written, thought provoking, and reflective of real life. Because of that its not always comfortable reading. And refreshing to read a novel based around an important facet of my own life that encompasses a world that most people would not recognise or understand.
Looking forward to reading the sequel.
It's about student life, it's about coming out, but also to a large extent it's about the (sad but true) way that Christians divide themselves up into so many different overlapping factions, groupings that are so diverse as to often be mutually unintelligible. And I have known people just like every major character in this book.
Its well written, thought provoking, and reflective of real life. Because of that its not always comfortable reading. And refreshing to read a novel based around an important facet of my own life that encompasses a world that most people would not recognise or understand.
Looking forward to reading the sequel.
June 14, 2017
This book was incredibly personal for me. I almost don't know where to start. I will begin with the story was well done. It pulled me in and kept me intrigued as to what would happen. The characters were so real it was almost as if she was writing about someone she knew or the book based on a true story. I will admit there were a few moments of a lull when some things were being overly explained such as some of the scriptures, but overall was I felt this tale was very good.
Lydia is trying hard to be a good Christian. Raised in the church and studying the Bible, Lydia has an idea of what a good Christian should be, but it is killing her. She has buried a part of herself and hopes God will just take that part of her away. Until she meets some people who make her question her entire faith upbringing.
This book is an f/f romance, it deals with the struggles of faith and being a Christian and being gay. I am in no way comparing myself to the huge impact of coming out as gay, but I can empathize with the main character feeling out of place while growing up in a “Christian” setting. Like the main character, Lydia, I grew up in a Christian home. My father was a pastor. Also like Lydia, I was in everything as far as activities in church. I empathize where she is coming from because I am one of the only people in my family who is not prejudiced or bigoted against the LGBT community. It makes things very hard when you are raise with certain Doctrine and with your family expecting certain things of you. You wonder whether it is ok to be gay (or even and ally) and be a Christian or whether it's true what many say that you will go to hell.
As the book goes on, Lydia encounters much to cause her inner turmoil. In the groups she is in, in the friends she has, in life as a whole, she encounters resistance. So she decides to sit down and read the Bible and see if God will speak to her. The one thing she got out of it was this: God loves her no matter what secret she has and no matter what happens in her life or what will happen. She realizes her relationship with God is just that: hers. And hers alone. And while she is ridiculed and hurt for her secret, she holds on to her faith in a loving God. She often feels alone and left out as so many people in her situation do, but she holds on to the fact that God loves us no matter what we do or how we lead our lives. He just wants to be a part of our lives.
I love this book also because even though the book was fictional it reflects real life. So many people today struggle for so many reasons and being told you are bad or disgusting when the opposite is true can be crushing. People are still worthy of love no matter what they do or how they live their lives, as Lydia learned and finally accepted. The people who love you are who matter.
This has a lot of Scripture and political drama that goes along with the Church and religion, but I encourage people to read this book and realize there are those of us who are Christians who are not prejudiced or racist or bigoted and all I or we want is to love and be loved in return. That was my favorite part of the whole book. When Lydia realized what life and love really mean and let the bad go.
Lydia is trying hard to be a good Christian. Raised in the church and studying the Bible, Lydia has an idea of what a good Christian should be, but it is killing her. She has buried a part of herself and hopes God will just take that part of her away. Until she meets some people who make her question her entire faith upbringing.
This book is an f/f romance, it deals with the struggles of faith and being a Christian and being gay. I am in no way comparing myself to the huge impact of coming out as gay, but I can empathize with the main character feeling out of place while growing up in a “Christian” setting. Like the main character, Lydia, I grew up in a Christian home. My father was a pastor. Also like Lydia, I was in everything as far as activities in church. I empathize where she is coming from because I am one of the only people in my family who is not prejudiced or bigoted against the LGBT community. It makes things very hard when you are raise with certain Doctrine and with your family expecting certain things of you. You wonder whether it is ok to be gay (or even and ally) and be a Christian or whether it's true what many say that you will go to hell.
As the book goes on, Lydia encounters much to cause her inner turmoil. In the groups she is in, in the friends she has, in life as a whole, she encounters resistance. So she decides to sit down and read the Bible and see if God will speak to her. The one thing she got out of it was this: God loves her no matter what secret she has and no matter what happens in her life or what will happen. She realizes her relationship with God is just that: hers. And hers alone. And while she is ridiculed and hurt for her secret, she holds on to her faith in a loving God. She often feels alone and left out as so many people in her situation do, but she holds on to the fact that God loves us no matter what we do or how we lead our lives. He just wants to be a part of our lives.
I love this book also because even though the book was fictional it reflects real life. So many people today struggle for so many reasons and being told you are bad or disgusting when the opposite is true can be crushing. People are still worthy of love no matter what they do or how they live their lives, as Lydia learned and finally accepted. The people who love you are who matter.
This has a lot of Scripture and political drama that goes along with the Church and religion, but I encourage people to read this book and realize there are those of us who are Christians who are not prejudiced or racist or bigoted and all I or we want is to love and be loved in return. That was my favorite part of the whole book. When Lydia realized what life and love really mean and let the bad go.
September 23, 2018
This review also appears on my blog alexreadsboooks
____
Lydia Hawkins is an Evangelical Christian and a lesbian. Everyone knows the former, but no one can ever find out the latter.
But when she meets the inhabitants of 27 Alma Road, she starts to realise that maybe it doesn't have to be this way. And as she accepts that there are more ways to be Christian, she also begins to discover that there are more ways to be herself.
But when a member of the Catholic Society starts questioning if the Christian Fellowship that Lydia is a part of is as Christian as it claims, Lydia finds herself part of a row that will not remain confined to the campus of Stancester University.
Thanks a lot to Kathleen Jowitt for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I have to admit that I jumped at the opportunity to review this, because first of all, it is about queer practicing Christians, and second of all, I was curious to see how Lydia would come to terms with her sexuality and her faith.
I am a non-practicing Catholic myself and its been years since I even read the Bible, but Speak its Name made me get out my old Bible from school and cross check on the parts I could find. I really love it when books make me think, and this one made me really think about a lot of stuff in a way I haven't done before. I didn't really expect this when I started reading Speak its Name, but I'm actually glad it happened.
What I also loved about it was the way Jowitt described uni life. It was really well done, and I had to think back to my own uni days a lot. In a funny coincidence all the talk about walking down a hill from campus to walk up another hill kept making me think of my own way between my house and campus the last year of uni, so in my mind Stancester probably looks more like Aberystwyth than it's supposed to be.
I also really enjoyed the balance between the different elements of the story. It never really felt like either campus politics, faith or romance took over the story; it always felt like they were balanced out.
Speak its Name is a great read about faith and sexuality. It's a great exploration of what it means to accept two seemingly contradictory aspects of yourself, and what it means to do that.
____
Lydia Hawkins is an Evangelical Christian and a lesbian. Everyone knows the former, but no one can ever find out the latter.
But when she meets the inhabitants of 27 Alma Road, she starts to realise that maybe it doesn't have to be this way. And as she accepts that there are more ways to be Christian, she also begins to discover that there are more ways to be herself.
But when a member of the Catholic Society starts questioning if the Christian Fellowship that Lydia is a part of is as Christian as it claims, Lydia finds herself part of a row that will not remain confined to the campus of Stancester University.
Thanks a lot to Kathleen Jowitt for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I have to admit that I jumped at the opportunity to review this, because first of all, it is about queer practicing Christians, and second of all, I was curious to see how Lydia would come to terms with her sexuality and her faith.
I am a non-practicing Catholic myself and its been years since I even read the Bible, but Speak its Name made me get out my old Bible from school and cross check on the parts I could find. I really love it when books make me think, and this one made me really think about a lot of stuff in a way I haven't done before. I didn't really expect this when I started reading Speak its Name, but I'm actually glad it happened.
What I also loved about it was the way Jowitt described uni life. It was really well done, and I had to think back to my own uni days a lot. In a funny coincidence all the talk about walking down a hill from campus to walk up another hill kept making me think of my own way between my house and campus the last year of uni, so in my mind Stancester probably looks more like Aberystwyth than it's supposed to be.
I also really enjoyed the balance between the different elements of the story. It never really felt like either campus politics, faith or romance took over the story; it always felt like they were balanced out.
Speak its Name is a great read about faith and sexuality. It's a great exploration of what it means to accept two seemingly contradictory aspects of yourself, and what it means to do that.
January 16, 2023
As a person raised in a very conservative religion, who struggled with acceptance of myself and peace with my spirituality, I could thoroughly relate to Lydia’s journey. I too discovered that I was a lesbian while studying at a church sponsored college. I felt the condemnation of who I am from “the church”. I found my peace, and acceptance of myself through the lessons in the new testament. Christ, when asked the most important commandments put it simply: 1. Love God above everything; 2. Love your neighbor as yourself. His message is LOVE. If you are busy loving… your life is on the right path.
So like Lydia, being a christian to me means being a good person, putting others first, being honorable, and not judging others. Lydia struggles with accepting who she is, and how to reconcile that with the teachings of her church and rejection from those closest to her. I like that she points out that the church is made of humans, flawed humans. I also enjoyed that she observed others relationships with their faith. Not every church and/or religion is the same. Even the churches need room to grow, to learn to love and to not judge, because they are made of imperfect humans. Sometime we need to wait for them to catch up.
So like Lydia, being a christian to me means being a good person, putting others first, being honorable, and not judging others. Lydia struggles with accepting who she is, and how to reconcile that with the teachings of her church and rejection from those closest to her. I like that she points out that the church is made of humans, flawed humans. I also enjoyed that she observed others relationships with their faith. Not every church and/or religion is the same. Even the churches need room to grow, to learn to love and to not judge, because they are made of imperfect humans. Sometime we need to wait for them to catch up.
September 28, 2018
’Speak Its Name’ by Kathleen Jowitt is ostensibly about the political interactions between various Christian factions within Stancester University. Lydia Hawkins is part of the Christian Fellowship and is trying to keep the faith while dealing with a secret she does not want to get out. As she mixes more with other christians of various denominations she is exposed to views that are very different from her upbringing and the version of Christianity she is trying to preach in her role as Hall Officer. But it is about a whole lot more.
This book made me think, made me laugh and cry. It was about love and friendship and becoming the person you need to be. I adored it. I really liked Lydia and I admired her struggle with her faith and the secret she is trying to keep. The characters as a whole were very realistic - some wonderful people I would be happy to know - others were appalling prigs, full of their own self importance. It is an excellent story of self-realisation and was very well written. The descriptions were stunningly accurate - both of student life and of the people encountered there. I highly recommend this novel.
I was given this book for review.
This book made me think, made me laugh and cry. It was about love and friendship and becoming the person you need to be. I adored it. I really liked Lydia and I admired her struggle with her faith and the secret she is trying to keep. The characters as a whole were very realistic - some wonderful people I would be happy to know - others were appalling prigs, full of their own self importance. It is an excellent story of self-realisation and was very well written. The descriptions were stunningly accurate - both of student life and of the people encountered there. I highly recommend this novel.
I was given this book for review.
July 29, 2022
Well written but really not my jam so it was just 'ok' for me.
February 6, 2017
Previously reviewed on The Good, The Bad, and The Unread:
There are a fair few romances out there in which characters are guided by their faith to resolve issues relating to love and a good number of stories in which LGBT characters move on from the faith of their childhood to a belief system that is more accepting. There are also plenty of non-fiction books whose aim is resolving conflicting issues of faith and sexuality, and I dare say a reasonable number aimed at people in mixed-faith relationships. However, there seems to be a gap in the market when it comes to LGBT romance that addresses issues of faith, particularly with regard to stories set in the current century (not to disrespect several well-loved authors whose historical characters have both faith and a healthy attitude towards their own sexuality). Having said all that, then, it’s quite surprising that this book sat on my shelf for nearly a year before the author sent me a gentle prompt asking if one of the Duckies could review it. Which I unhesitatingly did, resulting in much joy.
Lydia is returning to Stancester’s highly regarded university for a second year, having secured a place in the halls of residence, rather than in a shared house with her friends, by virtue of her appointment as a Hall Officer for the Christian Fellowship. She is tasked with mentoring any Christian students in residence and encouraging others to join the fold. Like many communities, Stancester University includes several different Christian denominations, which have organised themselves into a smaller number of Societies, affiliated to the Students’ Union, and with not-entirely-intelligible names. Although most of these Societies have overlapping memberships and organise group activities together, the Christian Fellowship tends to hold itself apart from – and thinks itself above – the others.
Lydia’s first act of rebellion comes when she decides to take part in an inter-Society overnight Vigil – against the advice of the other Hall Officers and committee members – and is paired with Colette, a Methodist living in a mostly Christian shared house, as providers of food for all those taking part. Lydia tries to suppress her attraction to Colette, who is unashamedly bisexual, but finds herself spending more and more time at Colette’s house following the Vigil. Meanwhile, ructions have broken out in the Students’ Union and the Societies, after an outspoken student has challenged whether the Christian Fellowship is being entirely honest in its name, or if it would be better renamed as the Evangelical Christian Fellowship. The other committee members insist Lydia helps with their campaign to keep the name with which they started the year, and she finds herself drawn into the complex political situation, in spite of other matters needing to take priority in her thoughts.
This really was a fabulous book. Lydia’s friends come in all varieties of faiths – and none – and exhibit a wide range of attitudes to their own sexuality as well as that of others. Lydia’s family, too, show a host of different attitudes towards their collectively taught beliefs, and most surprise her with their attitudes when she finally tells them where her affections lie. Highly recommended for anyone who has ever been involved in student or local politics, has sat on a committee or has even the vaguest passing interest in how other faiths and denominations work in the 21st Century – including me: I’ve never got the hang of the various factions within the Anglican Church, never mind all the others. I hope we don’t have too long to wait for another novel from this author.
There are a fair few romances out there in which characters are guided by their faith to resolve issues relating to love and a good number of stories in which LGBT characters move on from the faith of their childhood to a belief system that is more accepting. There are also plenty of non-fiction books whose aim is resolving conflicting issues of faith and sexuality, and I dare say a reasonable number aimed at people in mixed-faith relationships. However, there seems to be a gap in the market when it comes to LGBT romance that addresses issues of faith, particularly with regard to stories set in the current century (not to disrespect several well-loved authors whose historical characters have both faith and a healthy attitude towards their own sexuality). Having said all that, then, it’s quite surprising that this book sat on my shelf for nearly a year before the author sent me a gentle prompt asking if one of the Duckies could review it. Which I unhesitatingly did, resulting in much joy.
Lydia is returning to Stancester’s highly regarded university for a second year, having secured a place in the halls of residence, rather than in a shared house with her friends, by virtue of her appointment as a Hall Officer for the Christian Fellowship. She is tasked with mentoring any Christian students in residence and encouraging others to join the fold. Like many communities, Stancester University includes several different Christian denominations, which have organised themselves into a smaller number of Societies, affiliated to the Students’ Union, and with not-entirely-intelligible names. Although most of these Societies have overlapping memberships and organise group activities together, the Christian Fellowship tends to hold itself apart from – and thinks itself above – the others.
Lydia’s first act of rebellion comes when she decides to take part in an inter-Society overnight Vigil – against the advice of the other Hall Officers and committee members – and is paired with Colette, a Methodist living in a mostly Christian shared house, as providers of food for all those taking part. Lydia tries to suppress her attraction to Colette, who is unashamedly bisexual, but finds herself spending more and more time at Colette’s house following the Vigil. Meanwhile, ructions have broken out in the Students’ Union and the Societies, after an outspoken student has challenged whether the Christian Fellowship is being entirely honest in its name, or if it would be better renamed as the Evangelical Christian Fellowship. The other committee members insist Lydia helps with their campaign to keep the name with which they started the year, and she finds herself drawn into the complex political situation, in spite of other matters needing to take priority in her thoughts.
This really was a fabulous book. Lydia’s friends come in all varieties of faiths – and none – and exhibit a wide range of attitudes to their own sexuality as well as that of others. Lydia’s family, too, show a host of different attitudes towards their collectively taught beliefs, and most surprise her with their attitudes when she finally tells them where her affections lie. Highly recommended for anyone who has ever been involved in student or local politics, has sat on a committee or has even the vaguest passing interest in how other faiths and denominations work in the 21st Century – including me: I’ve never got the hang of the various factions within the Anglican Church, never mind all the others. I hope we don’t have too long to wait for another novel from this author.
August 10, 2016
This is probably a book best enjoyed by people who have connections to Christian communities or have an understanding of them. However, if anyone wants a glimpse into the world of conservative evangelical Christianity, this is an excellent example of what it looks like. It's also a good read for straight Christians who want to understand what it's like to be LGBTQ within those conservative spaces.
It's hard to categorize my own feelings after reading this. At times, it was so familiar as to be painful. Because this is set in the UK and I'm in the US, I spotted some distinct cultural differences, particularly with the university system. However, every last detail about the Christian Fellowship group was achingly familiar, right down to the lingo, the statement of belief, and the narrowly specific teachings. It was enough that I cringed with apology for Americans having exported this brand of faith.
This is not a fast-paced story. It's a slow-bloom both regarding Lydia's expanding definition of what it means to be a Christian and her romance with Colette. I was both surprised and yet not at the way the faith-based politics played out in the story as well as Lydia's role in it all. Once again, it felt horribly familiar. Yet there was comfort in the realization that we who have been through similar things are not alone.
One thing I particularly liked was seeing the characters struggling to make sense of Lydia's orientation but seen from her perspective. A lot of Christian novels on LGBTQ issues are about Christians trying to figure out what to do with their gay friends and family, but they aren't told in the words and thoughts of the gay person themselves. It was a good change of pace watching it happen from inside, from Lydia's point of view, and seeing the different reactions in contrast with each other.
This is an ideal read for anyone trying to make sense of Christian faith and being LGBTQ or being friends and family of LGBTQ people. The characters and setting feel real, and it's so well-written with rich detail. It could be difficult for some readers to revisit a painful past, but others will find a kinship with Lydia and her group of friends.
I received a free copy via Inked Rainbow in exchange for an honest review.
It's hard to categorize my own feelings after reading this. At times, it was so familiar as to be painful. Because this is set in the UK and I'm in the US, I spotted some distinct cultural differences, particularly with the university system. However, every last detail about the Christian Fellowship group was achingly familiar, right down to the lingo, the statement of belief, and the narrowly specific teachings. It was enough that I cringed with apology for Americans having exported this brand of faith.
This is not a fast-paced story. It's a slow-bloom both regarding Lydia's expanding definition of what it means to be a Christian and her romance with Colette. I was both surprised and yet not at the way the faith-based politics played out in the story as well as Lydia's role in it all. Once again, it felt horribly familiar. Yet there was comfort in the realization that we who have been through similar things are not alone.
One thing I particularly liked was seeing the characters struggling to make sense of Lydia's orientation but seen from her perspective. A lot of Christian novels on LGBTQ issues are about Christians trying to figure out what to do with their gay friends and family, but they aren't told in the words and thoughts of the gay person themselves. It was a good change of pace watching it happen from inside, from Lydia's point of view, and seeing the different reactions in contrast with each other.
This is an ideal read for anyone trying to make sense of Christian faith and being LGBTQ or being friends and family of LGBTQ people. The characters and setting feel real, and it's so well-written with rich detail. It could be difficult for some readers to revisit a painful past, but others will find a kinship with Lydia and her group of friends.
I received a free copy via Inked Rainbow in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2016
I bought this because everyone on my DW reading list seemed to be reading it, and the author, Kathleen Jowitt, is a friend of friends and someone I've recently started following (and who I hope to come to know better, as she seems lovely - I'm not sure how I missed making her acquaintance for so long). And because it sounded like something I'd enjoy.
It was indeed something I enjoyed. It's set at a fictional university in the West of England at some point after mobile phones, laptops, email and Facebook became common, but it reminded me very much of my time st university in the Midlands before any of those things were part of the average student's life. The main characters are all members of various student Christian groups, which is an aspect of student life I was never involved in beyond sharing a house with two members of the CU for a couple of terms, but from the sound of things the way student Christian groups work - the meetings, the rivalries, the campaigns and events, the personalities and the relationship with the Students' Union - isn't entirely dissimilar to the way the political and campaigning groups I was involved with worked. Reading the book felt like a very nostalgic experience in a lot of ways; I was vividly reminded of how it felt to be young and away from home for the first time, taking my first steps towards becoming a truly independent, individual adult, of how serious everything felt, how many possibilties life held, how my whole future depended on the choices I made.
The main thing I loved about the book wasn't the nostalgia, though; it was the characters, who are amazingly vivid and lifelike. It's not a long book, and I read it in a few days, but I felt as though Lydia, Colette, Becky, Peter and Georgia were real people who I'd got to know and become friends with, not just characters in a book I was reading. I was utterly involved in the ups and downs of their lives, desperately wanting everything to turn out well for them, delighted at their triumphs and heartbroken by their sorrows. I was sorry to finish the book and have to leave them behind, and I might have to read it again soon just so I can revist them.
It was indeed something I enjoyed. It's set at a fictional university in the West of England at some point after mobile phones, laptops, email and Facebook became common, but it reminded me very much of my time st university in the Midlands before any of those things were part of the average student's life. The main characters are all members of various student Christian groups, which is an aspect of student life I was never involved in beyond sharing a house with two members of the CU for a couple of terms, but from the sound of things the way student Christian groups work - the meetings, the rivalries, the campaigns and events, the personalities and the relationship with the Students' Union - isn't entirely dissimilar to the way the political and campaigning groups I was involved with worked. Reading the book felt like a very nostalgic experience in a lot of ways; I was vividly reminded of how it felt to be young and away from home for the first time, taking my first steps towards becoming a truly independent, individual adult, of how serious everything felt, how many possibilties life held, how my whole future depended on the choices I made.
The main thing I loved about the book wasn't the nostalgia, though; it was the characters, who are amazingly vivid and lifelike. It's not a long book, and I read it in a few days, but I felt as though Lydia, Colette, Becky, Peter and Georgia were real people who I'd got to know and become friends with, not just characters in a book I was reading. I was utterly involved in the ups and downs of their lives, desperately wanting everything to turn out well for them, delighted at their triumphs and heartbroken by their sorrows. I was sorry to finish the book and have to leave them behind, and I might have to read it again soon just so I can revist them.
September 14, 2016
This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.
Lydia is part of the Christian Fellowship, the strictest and least forgiving of the Christian societies on her college campus. While she enjoys leading others into the words of God, Lydia is often left feeling like she has missed something from her own readings of the scripture – how can she be feeling these things towards other people if the Bible says it is wrong? This is a novel of how Lydia finds herself, and in doing so, can help others too.
I’m having a problem with some of these honeymoon romance periods novels at the moment. The sad truth is that many relationships won’t survive past the 2 year biological imperative. This novel is more important than that though, it’s about coming out in a place where you think everyone will be hostile.
For me, the ending didn’t entirely ring true. I’m not sure how dependant she was on her parents and other people, but noone seemed to have job. Oh wait, I’ve just realised this is set in the UK, so that means that the college rules are different. Anyway, aren’t jobs essential to university students?
I appreciated the reference to bisexuals not being really recognised in the queer community. Jowitt puts it nicely when she says that Colette could have fallen off one side of the fence or the other!
Surprisingly I’m going to be releasing this 4 star novel into the wild. Not because I didn’t enjoy it, but because I think it offers a unique entry into being queer in a Christian community, and I think it can help many people in their journey towards being comfortable with themselves.
Lydia is part of the Christian Fellowship, the strictest and least forgiving of the Christian societies on her college campus. While she enjoys leading others into the words of God, Lydia is often left feeling like she has missed something from her own readings of the scripture – how can she be feeling these things towards other people if the Bible says it is wrong? This is a novel of how Lydia finds herself, and in doing so, can help others too.
I’m having a problem with some of these honeymoon romance periods novels at the moment. The sad truth is that many relationships won’t survive past the 2 year biological imperative. This novel is more important than that though, it’s about coming out in a place where you think everyone will be hostile.
For me, the ending didn’t entirely ring true. I’m not sure how dependant she was on her parents and other people, but noone seemed to have job. Oh wait, I’ve just realised this is set in the UK, so that means that the college rules are different. Anyway, aren’t jobs essential to university students?
I appreciated the reference to bisexuals not being really recognised in the queer community. Jowitt puts it nicely when she says that Colette could have fallen off one side of the fence or the other!
Surprisingly I’m going to be releasing this 4 star novel into the wild. Not because I didn’t enjoy it, but because I think it offers a unique entry into being queer in a Christian community, and I think it can help many people in their journey towards being comfortable with themselves.
June 22, 2016
Horribly realistic about student christendom and friends confirm it's horribly realistic about university politics at the time. (Though obviously the university named is a fictional one.) Much less Barchester and more early Catherine Fox - more personal journey and less politics - than I had expected, but perhaps a better novel for it. I would be very interested in reading a companion book focused more broadly on the politicking of the student Christian scene.
February 7, 2016
Polished, meaningful reflection on a same-sex relationship and Christian politics in an early twenty-first century southwest-English university, with a reminder of the special luxuries and special hells of love and freedom of expression, and the petty strictures which we can let rule our lives in youth and afterwards.
February 4, 2016
Great view of student life and politics of university societies - very true to the kind of issues I remember (although that was a different range of societies). Very vivid characters and great story.
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