(14 votes, average: 3.36 out of 5)
Loading ...Finding An Unseen God by Alicia Britt Chole
Do you ever discover a gem of a new (or at least, new-to-you) writer and wish all of your friends could read her – particularly your friends who enjoy memoir and narrative nonfiction? This is how I feel about Alicia Britt Chole and her Finding an Unseen God.
Truth is dead.
God never lived.
Life is filled with pain.
Death is the end of life.
These beliefs formed Chole’s outlook as a young woman. “I sincerely believed that there was no God,” she says. “As a young Atheist, I simply considered myself a realist who preferred unanswered questions over fairy tales.”
Then one day, without warning, Alicia’s atheistic paradigm was shattered.
Finding an Unseen God is written and arranged creatively, nonlinearly in her narrative. If it wasn’t such an overused phrase, dare I say her storytelling style is…postmodern? This concise travelling companion opens a window into Alicia’s surprising spiritual journey. With warmth, intellect, and compassion, Alicia invites us to carefully consider what we believe and do not believe, while she paints a vivid portrait of a God who relentlessly pursues even those who wrestle with doubt and ambiguity.
Here’s what Mark Batterson has to say about Finding An Unseen God:
“Alicia’s heartfelt and thoughtful words penetrate the soul and make you feel and think in new ways.”
mhasty
It’s always a beautiful thing to hear the stories of lives that have been changed. Lives that were heading deeper into the darkness of the world only to be rescued and brought into the Light. It’s a beautiful thing to hear about how Jesus changes lives.
That’s exactly what the book Finding An Unseen God is all about. It’s a true story, a testimony if you will, of a changed life. The author, Alicia Britt Chole, writes with passion and zeal to communicate the story of the events surrounding her encounter with Jesus.
As a former Atheist, Alicia writes from a slightly apologetic perspective. She reminds Christ-followers that they are to be known by their love. This is not a wishy washy love that wipes over all people without an attempt at sharing the gospel. Alicia encourages the reader to communicate the truth in love and one might get the idea that she feels the telling of your own story may be the best way to do just that.
The book jumps from chapter 52 and the end of her story to chapter 1 the beginnings to 51 to 2 and so on until it meets in the middle. While at first this is a bit confusing it later became pretty enjoyable and worked like a seamless puzzle joining up in just the write moments. It also became very nice in breaking up what some might consider heavier apologetic sections of reading. While there is no real, “heavy reading” in Finding An Unseen God it’s still nice to keep the story moving while breaking it up as well. The theme of puzzles seems to flow throughout the book, from the clever cover art to an actual word puzzle at the beginning of the book, that serve as metaphorical touches to Alicia’s testimony of her life that at many moments seems like a table full of puzzle pieces waiting to be put together. Thankfully all is found and put in place by her Savior, Jesus.
While Alicia spend 90% of the book simply telling her story, it’s not lost on this reader her attempts to draw those without a relationship with Jesus into one. She leaves the reader with four filters to apply to their own faith, which she in tern has applied to her relationship with Christ. “(1) – My faith’s savior, Jesus, is consistent to the core. (2) – My faith – though quotable – is also livable. (3) – My faith in Jesus is sustainable (4) – My faith in Jesus is transferable to others.”
Overall, Finding An Unseen God, is an enjoyable and quick read. It’s the true story of a woman who has come to grips with who Jesus is and what He has done in her life.
http://thegreatrescue.blogspot.com/2009/07/finding-unseen-god-reflections-of.html
Jul 16th, 2009
spiritofburning
It’s refreshing to encounter a book that interweaves a depth of intellectual conversation with personal experience and life story. Picking up, “Finding an Unseen God,” by Alicia Britt Chole, I was concerned that the material would be bland like many books covering the topic of atheism. Instead, what I found was a riveting tale of an ordinary girl who had an extraordinary encounter with Jesus.
The book is organized in an obscure fashion. As one progresses toward the end of the book it’s obvious that the chapters alternate: 51, 1, 50, 2, etc. This through me for a major loop. Unsure of the intent, I read “half” the book, covering the ascending chapters until I got to the last page. I then read the book “backwards,” beginning with chapter 26 which is on the last page and reading until I finished chapter 52 at the beginning of the book. It would have been helpful to have an explanation on how to read the book.
In spite of the awkward arrangement of the chapters, I appreciated the brevity of Chole’s chapters. Each one was between two and four pages, just enough to communicate the intent with additional “fluff” to fill pages.
Especially impressive about the author was her ability to confront the concept of atheism head on with a humility and simplicity that was first disarming and then inviting. I felt drawn into her experience. She goes to great lengths to share her story with a vulnerability that wins your attention. This method gives patience to reader as she explains the mechanics of her faith in the second half of the book.
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who rubs shoulders with atheists.
Jul 18th, 2009
censtad
This book is a memoir as well as a work of apologetics from a woman who spent her entire life as an Atheist first the quiet kind and then, in college, as a robust debater.
Interspersed in the tale of her conversion are stories of her childhood, her family, her acting out as a young girl, the unexpected death of her father and a life lived in several different homes in several different states. At no time in her retelling of these stories can we find an ultimate reason for her atheism and even her conversion… and for that I am thankful. This book is not about any formula for converting someone nor is it a self-help book to hand someone else in a crisis of faith. This book is one woman’s story, simply and quickly told, and an experience of faith that has everything to do with God and the power of prayer.
Chole’s writing is brisk and emotive. The chapters are short and sweet. There are moments when she turns to a more didactive mode of writing, in essence teaching the reader about religion and one chapter that nearly takes the entire book of the tracks on the perils of pluralism.
All in all this is a good, not great, book. It could easily be turned into a book for discussion using the questions that Chole intersperses throughout her prose.
Jul 20th, 2009
digitalnomad777
Today, I have the great honor of reviewing a new book that is out by Alicia Chole. This book is a very honest and daring look at the life of Alicia, who at one time was a professing Athiest. She tells the miraculous story of her birth, and how her parents were pushed by the doctors to abort her. They did not, of course, but it was very much a real act of faith on their part to go through with the pregnancy. I was very enlightened by Alicia’s candid honesty, sometimes extreme, but yet very refreshing and courageous. I was forced to take a look at my own faith at times, as well as look inside myself at what was going on inside my own heart and mind. I would highly recommend this book to people who have wondered what it may be like to be an athiest; who have wondered what it may be like to walk a day in their shoes. But even more so, I would recommend this book to people who are not so sure about their own belief in God. It has been very enlightening for me to read about Alicia Chole’s life. It is such a great story of love and redemption, and coming home to what life is really supposed to be all about. A real God who is desperately in love with the people He created and wants to have a personal relationship with them.
http://www.radicallyaltered.wordpress.com
Jul 21st, 2009
darhug
Alicia Britt Chole has contributed an interesting addition to the shelves of books under the label “Why I am a Christian.” He journey as an affirmed atheist takes us from a disillusioned childhood through the friendships with solidly evangelical friends. Her conversion experience is miraculous and unexpected. Her training as an atheist has since caused her to examine her faith analytically, a rare treat for those who have never bothered to wonder why they believe that they believe nor picked up a copy of C.S. Lewis’ books other than the Narnia trilogy.
The chapter divisions are a little disjointing if read straight through, but they are numbered in such a way that you could read them in a different order if you so choose. Literarily this device comes across as a little eccentric, but even this does not get in the way of the ultimately valuable insights she offers on her faith.
One of the earliest of these is the idea of the *voice* that comes through when reading Scripture, even the confusing parts. She admits to a desire for her religion to be grounded in reality, to have meaning in some realistic terms. She is comforted by the honesty of Biblical writers. Her altar call for believers to take other believers of different faiths seriously is admirable. She says “People have reasons for their beliefs.” Most evangelicals are not relational enough to recognize this, but it is a significant contribution to the conversation to remind us of this. The result, she says, “is—at the very least—respect, which is perhaps a more powerful force than words.”
My deepest respect for Chole is her intellect. I have often taught that the gospel armor includes a helmet of salvation to protect our brains, our minds, our thinking. Christians should be known for their intellect and rational thinking. So often we come across as emotional, and when prompted to give an account for our beliefs we rely on intuition and feelings. Chole clearly outlines some ways that we can hold conversations with others about our beliefs. Coming as she does from “the other side,” these tactical elements of thinking are invaluable, not, as she affirms, to win arguments, but to win relationships.
Pass this book along to someone who is asking the good questions about your faith. The honest questions, the questions that get you thinking about why you believe what you believe. Engage in a dialog about the propositions in Finding an Unseen God. It will be a most fruitful discussion.
Jul 22nd, 2009
expastor
There is a kind of analysis that looks for minor points with which to disagree and misses the larger point. I discourage my students from it, and I will do my best to avoid it when talking about Alicia Britt Chole’s mess of a memoir/reflection Finding an Unseen God from Bethany House Publishing. The book suffers from an attempt to tell a story in a non-linear fashion, as the chronology of Chole’s (show-lee) spiritual journey from atheism to Christianity is interrupted with reflections about atheism, theism, belief, etc. The straight story-telling portions are good, if dripping with sentimentality and yellow prose, especially the portions about her father’s greatness and her brief, teenage depression. The reflections from a former atheist are a great example of what is wrong with Christian books written by former anythings.
Chole stopped being an atheist at about 18, certainly a time in life when the accumulated wisdom of almost two decades of metaphysical research would make you most capable of deciding that atheism won’t stand up to scrutiny. (More on that in a bit.) But Chole has a different reason for abandoning her 18-year old atheism: she met God. Or rather, God came to her when she wasn’t even looking for him. You have to wait ’til the end of the book to get the whole story, but let me give you the synopsis of the story and the larger point, as I understand it. Nominally Catholic mother, unbelieving if agnostic father, good early life, troubled adolescence, suicidal thoughts, depression, jobless father, mean kids, misunderstood, two persistent Christian girls, small church on the verge of a split, old pews, old music, God, God, God, love, love, love, no longer atheist, abandon all critical thinking that she allegedly developed as a devout atheist. The larger point: you can find God, or rather he’ll find you, if you just want to, or rather if he wants to, and, oh, atheists are intellectually dishonest because the burden of proof is on them.
Chole has a graduate degree, and without looking it up, I’ll assume it’s not in philosophy or theology. Her thinking sounds too much like Josh McDowell meets Ravi Zacharias (both of whom she references), which is to say it’s sloppy, biased, uncritical, conflates categories, and convinces those who already believe that they have good reason to believe. I was inclined to be charitable about this book despite her insistence that Buddhists be classified as theists, as well as anyone else who confessed even a nominal belief in any god or godlike reality. (Has she never heard of deism, taoism, monism?) Then I got to page 68.
“Forgive my drama, but Copernicus and Galileo did not therefore each go to the majority and proclaim, ‘I have an announcement: The sun is the center of our solar system. From henceforth, my minority hypothesis is true until you, the overwhelming majority of humankind, can either prove that the earth is the center or that the sun is not.’ These scientists knew that the burden of proof—especially for theories that are in contradiction to what most of the world believes—rests upon the theory’s champion, the relative newcomer.”
Lest you wallow in confusion about this categorical nightmare, let me give you the background before I give you her solution. Atheism is the newcomer. Since God’s existence cannot be proven by Christians (theists), the burden of proof still rests on the relative newcomer, the atheist, not the ones who have been “right” for so long. If you can swallow that egregious sophistry, try this.
“Some may object and state that examples like this are in the realm of science whereas the Atheism-Theism discussion is not. I disagree. Science, philosophy, and religion dance together; their movements influence one another.”
I literally nearly threw the book across the room. That is the most willfully ignorant nonsense I’ve ever heard, or she’s been a theist for so long that she has forgotten how to think categorically, something she should have learned as a seasoned atheist. (Hard not to mock her at this point. Sorry.) It doesn’t make two shits if science and philosophy dance together (whatever the hell that means), Ms. Chole. When you make a claim about an entity that exists at the center of reality that can’t be seen, experienced in a measurable fashion (other than your post-depression catharsis…err…epiphany), or relied upon to provide accurate information about what he/she expects, you are in the realm of metaphysics, not science. Now, as long as you talk about how God makes you feel loved and accepted, great. The problem is, as I mention to my students with excruciating frequency, that those personal convictions eventually enter the polling booth where they influence public policy. At that point, whatever claim you make about your god and his dusty book needs to be verifiable, otherwise you have no good reason to deny gays and lesbians the right to marry.
Chole attempts to explain that she checked on the Bible’s reliability by reading Evidence that Demands a Verdict. The mind reels. Well, after reading that deep, thorough, scholarly text, why not read something from another perspective. Another weakness of the theist position: the insistence on reading what other theists say about atheists or bible critics, not reading the primary sources.
Finally, Chole offers a four-step system for verifying that her faith is better than pluralism (please note that truthful propositions are not part of the process).
* Consistent at its core. She really means the founder, not the book or the epistemology
* Livable, and not just quotable. Applies to all faiths, I think.
* Sustainable through life-size pain. Theodicy. She discusses personal pain, not natural evil, and again, applies to nearly every faith group I’ve experienced.
* Transferable to others. She means across cultures. Again….
Congratulations on defeating the monster of pluralism! Wait. Never mind. This book is truly a mess, and mainly because the larger point leaves 98 percent of the world wondering why they didn’t get God’s love at a clapboard church in BFE. At the end of the Unseen God, he’s still pretty inscrutable. This is a great book for Bible studies at evangelical churches where easy answers to difficult questions abound.
originally from http://www.theparishokc.org
Jul 23rd, 2009
NeilCraigan
A story of a life changed through the call of Christ, a gentle apologetic for the Christian faith from both the evidential and relational approach.
As Alicia Britt Chole tries to write a spiritual memoir she does so beautifully, she has a story to tell, a journey from atheism to faith in Christ. A journey that involves frequent moves, family struggles and significant Christian friendships that lead to her conversion. On this level the book works, it’s no Girl Meets God or Traveling Mercies but its good and a story worth reading.
The book falters as it tries to cover the story in a non-linear manner with chapters alternating between various time periods in Chole’s life. This manner of writing worked for about the first third of the book but then faltered as the chapters stop alternating between her story but started to shift between story and apologetics making it feel jumpy and disjointed.
If you want to read the book you’ll probably enjoy the story but you may want to read the chapters as numbered as opposed to as printed.
Jul 24th, 2009
Brent Risting
I found the book Finding an unseen God by Alicia Britt Chole to be an interesting and easy read even if a little too simple in its message for my taste. Despite the “postmodern” style and feel of the book, it was really quite traditional in its message of believing in a God.
She uses an unusual structuring to get you interested as she weaves an interesting story with a few connectible characters, such as her father. The book starts with chapter 52 followed by chapter 1 then 51 and so on back and forth. The format was both intriguing and confusing for me. There were several chapter that I had to reread in order to understand what story she was talking about.
I did however; enjoy reading her patterns of thought and the ways she clearly shows she is now able to think about her belief and intellectually accept it. For me this was the most beneficial section of the book.
The book was a nice short read, that kept my attention enough to read it in two sittings. As a whole I don’t think I will be recommending the book strongly, however it was enjoyable and includes some good and interesting ideas.
breNt
Jul 24th, 2009
Guitarman874
I used to think that I had to be prepared to defend my faith. Accordingly, I read all of the Christian apologetics books I could get my hands on: Evidence that Demands a Verdict I and II and Updated Editions; Know Why You Believe; and Irrefutable Arguments That Will Convince Every Pagan That Jesus Is Lord (or something like that). I was well versed in C. S. Lewis’ famous “tri-lemma” about Jesus being a “liar, lunatic, or Lord.” I read widely across many disciplines, and felt that I could articulate an intelligent faith-based worldview with anyone.
I was also quite arrogant and cocky, and worshipped a very small God.
Then I saw love in action. Love is the foundation upon which the world rests, and the greatest power in the universe. Love doesn’t set out to prove itself or belittle an “opponent” with the truth. Love walks alongside anyone and simply listens. It is hard to argue against love.
Alicia Britt Chole has written a new book called Finding an Unseen God. It is a memoir, detailing her journey from atheism to the transforming presence of Love. Her story is a wonderful reminder that God isn’t looking for people to defend his name or prove his existence.
God is looking for people who will transform the world with love.
To live in God’s Great Story is to live in a radical love for all people.
Jul 24th, 2009
David Gregg
You could have guessed that someone could write a book with a subtitle like “Reflections of a Former Atheist” any number of ways. One way might be sappy and clichéd. A second might be polemic and combative. Another might be condescending, or glib, or sardonic. But you might not have guessed that, instead, this book would be refreshing, gripping, and original. Or how about artful and intelligent? Whether she knows it or not, Alicia Britt Chole has given us a glimpse at what a masterful writer can do with a difficult subject and a dichotomous audience. Reasonable Theists and Atheists alike can appreciate this little book’s big presence.From the moment I opened the Table of Contents (Literally. Have a look.), I knew “Finding an Unseen God” was going to be an interesting read. And it was. The book alternates between two threads: her reasons for her now “former Atheist” status, and the story behind it all—going back to the beginning of her childhood. The net: you begin to feel that you know this young Atheist, you understand (if not accept) her reasons for being an Atheist, and you understand (if not accept) why she can now say that she not only believes that God exists, but believes in Him, as well.Through the weaving reason and experience, Alicia confesses why her belief does not mean for her intellectual high treason and why Atheism can mean intellectual integrity.Atheists will find the Christian Chole respectful, level-headed, and even partially affirmative. She says,
Theists will find the former-Atheist Chole challenging, inspiring, and even tonic.
“Finding an Unseen God” not only traces the course and pulse of Alicia’s life, believing and unbelieving, it provides sound reasoning for integrity in the dialog between Theists and Atheists. Atheists can sometimes be heard demanding of believers of any kind, “Prove to me the existence of deity.” Theists often reply with the regretful explanation that God’s existence cannot be proven empirically. Alicia comments,
Chole does not ask Atheists to consider an easy, ignorant Theism. Instead, she describes a God who isn’t afraid of being questioned:
She describes a God who pursues personal relationship and who loves indiscriminately.
Though more directly written with Atheists and Christians in mind, whatever your conviction, “Finding an Unseen God: Reflections of a Former Atheist” is a very appreciable read, one I personally found both fun and stimulating. And at 164 pages and interwoven with very well-written biographical story, it’s a breeze to be sure. This is a book I’m proud to have on my shelf.“Finding an Unseen God: Reflections of a Former Atheist” by Alicia Britt Chole
Jul 25th, 2009
ahub101
Book Review: Finding An Unseen God
(Check out my new blog: http://important-topics-ahub.blogspot.com/)
As an Ooze Viral Blogger (http://viralbloggers.com/), it is my duty and privilege to review books, available to me through The Ooze, of my choosing. The first book I reviewed (go here for the review and here for a sort of follow-up) was called Jesus Interrupted by Bart Ehrman. In his work, Ehrman’s personal experiences with faith and Christianity are clearly a major motivation for his denial of the importance of the Bible and a God that is good.
This interweaving of personal experiences with a historical faith is even more evident in Alicia Britt Chole’s new book, Finding An Unseen God, subtitled “Reflections Of A Former Atheist”. Throughout the book, Chole weaves chapters recalling her atheistic years with chapters stating her current thoughts and beliefs.
At first, this weaving together of different times in her life might be difficult for the reader to sort out. An explanation might prove to be helpful. Chapters alternate between exploring her atheistic past (which is indicated on the contents page with a chapter title on the left, ascending from 1 to 26) chapters that explain her current faith and how that came about (indicated by chapter titles being on the right side of the contents page, descending from 52 to 26).
The greatest collision of Chole’s two belief-sets (Atheism and Christianity) in the final chapter of the book (26) prove to be both the climax and denouement of Finding An Unseen God. In the final chapter, Chole tells of her surrender to Jesus, after years of bitterness towards Him. As a climax, the chapter serves to highlight the point of decision. As denouement, the chapter shows the resolution of the tensions in the book. Though Chole says that becoming a Christian never simply solved her questions, they gave her a better place to see truth from.
As somewhat of a biography – spanning a life’s worth of adventure and pondering – many topics are addressed in this book. The many topics include: Atheism, how Christians should act towards Atheists, pluralism, respect for other belief systems,, the historicity of the Bible, simple-minded Christianity, objective truths, theodicy (the problem of evil and suffering in the world), the importance of friends and family in one’s life, and presence of God in Christian worship.
Two of these topics will be considered. First, in ways reminiscent of Polkinghorne and Newbigin, Chole devotes a large portion of her book to dealing with religious pluralism and Christianity’s claim to be both different and truer than other religions (see especially p. 79-105). Chole admits that there are many religious options out there to chose from, and that can be difficult to decide which is the right one; that, in fact, all paths lead to the top of the same mountain. Though it can be difficult to sort through all the different believe-systems, “difficult to find is a different matter than impossible to find” (p.81).
Chole then goes on to deliver a kindly, yet lucid critique of religious pluralism. Her three main arguments against religious pluralism are summed up in her first point, which is contra the believe that “world religions really ARE saying the same thing, or at least have compatible core beliefs” (p. 104):
Ask them, Ask the committed Muslim, the devout Jew, the practicing Hindu, the devoted Christian, and the sincere Buddhist if they are all saying the same thing or if, at the very least, their core beliefs are compatible. With the possible exception of the Hindu, my guess is that you will hear great unity in their response of “no!” (p. 104)
Here, of course, Chole is implying that if devout followers of different religions see that each religion is unique, then how can someone who is outside of the traditions altogether understand them as “communicating complementary messages”? (p. 104) She is also pointing out the arrogance of such assertions.
If religions make distinct and competing claims, how can we learn which one is the best? To solve this problem, Chole provides four questions that serve as “filters” (p. 88):
1) Is my belief system…consistent (at its core)?
2) Is my belief system…livable (and not just quotable)?
3) Is my belief system…sustainable (through life-size pain)?
4) Is my belief system…transferable (to others)?
Perhaps Chole’s four filters (and their subsequent proving of the truthfulness of Christianity) are too simplistic for some, but I find that they provide a helpful screen in discerning the varying levels of truth and goodness in various religious claims. In truth, much of Chole’s book reads this way: simple, yet profound and powerful.
The second topic found in Chole’s book that I will consider is that of theodicy, which is the problem of evil and suffering in the world, in lue of an all-good and all-powerful God. It turns out that this issue is, for people such as Bart Ehrman, is a deal-breaker when it comes to believing in Jesus. For Chole, the problem of injustice in the world provided her atheism with both peace of mind and potency. “If there is no God, then we do not have to question him, her, or them about why the innocent are condemned and the guilty freed-it is simply human error” (p.63).
However, that peace of mind, the fact that we should not expect otherwise soon began to haunt her, turning peace of mind into a darker approach to life:
As an Atheist, the road to suicide was less fraught with moral or philosophical obstacles than perhaps it would be for a Theist of whatever persuasion. There was no god, There was no afterlife, death ended all pain. Why wait for the release when I could initiate it? (p.78); Underneath, something significant had shifted within me, My atheism had experienced a mutation: It was no longer benign… Life is painful…Through a more personal acquaintance with relational and emotional pain, my Atheism morphed into “anti-theism”…How could anyone have the audacity to suggest the existence of a god or gods that “hold all the power”? How could such beings exist and not use their power to prevent pain? Obviously there is no god. (p. 133-144)
Unfortunately, the problem of theodicy is not intellectually countered in Chole’s book. Instead, experiential answers are given:
In many ways it would be a relief to once again chalk these atrocities up to the human condition alone; to return to a worldview that would deliver me from wondering where God as and what prayer does. But for me, and other sincere people of faith, the tension remains…Over the years, though, I have experienced a glorious discovery: There is treasure in the tension. The struggle is a doorway. Sincerity in the quest ushers us mysteriously across the threshold, and on the other side is – not answers – but knowing. On the other side is intimacy. (p.64); Beliefs are celebrated in the light. They are tested in the dark. (p. 116); Life is not tidy. Pain coexists with joy… God does not conveniently edit out the uncomfortable…Spiritually seeing God’s wholeness did not blind me to the world’s woundedness. Over the years, my sensitivity to injustice and pain has only heightened. Walking with God, I still see life’s complexities – but now that sight is attended by hope and complimented by a renewable strength to fight. Relationship with this realistic god has made me, both in thought and action, more (not less) in touch with the true aches of humanity.
It is helpful to notice here, what Chole calls the “fruit” (p.75) of a belief system. The fruit is the result of the belief system, it is the quality of fullness in life, the “honey” of the “fruit and honey” in life. Belief in Jesus has given Chole the ability to see hope, and therefore, to be more merciful to others and to bring more goodness and justice to the world. Instead of her thoughts of suicide, and negativity towards others, she learned that with Jesus she could participate more in life. As He once said, he has come to bring not just life, not just breathing and eating, but fullness of life: joy, peace, hope, and love (John 10:10, my translation). Other fruit that Chole has experienced since being a Christian has been, contra the writing of the New Atheists, an increase in mental vitality: “What I did not anticipate [as a result of her conversion], though, was an increase in my ability to learn, When God awakened me to his existence, my critical-thinking skills expanded and my creativity exploded” (p. 147).
Another section of Finding an Unseen God must be discussed. Chole’s retelling of her moment of realizing that God is real (ch.25) was the highlight of the book for me. I will not spoil the book for those who wish to read it, but I should point out that it struck me as such a moment of beauty, serenity, power, and worship. It made so much sense where and when her conversion happened, and yet none at all.
I appreciated Finding An Unseen God for its simplicity, its truth, and its respect for other belief systems. It should be noted that Finding An Unseen God is no textbook, filled with arguments and counter-arguments. It is a journal of a life-journey. The book will leave readers encouraged 1) in their faith and 2) in learning more about their faith and the faiths of others. Finding An Unseen God’s 173 pages will leave its readers both satisfied with their faith and thirsting for more truth.
See the (very interesting) Trailer.
Go to Alicia Britt Chole’s website.
Read a review and excerpts from the book.
Read more reviews.
Jul 25th, 2009
Andrew Hackman
When I selected this book to review for theooze.com, I did so because of the description. I was intrigued that the author had moved to Christianity from an Atheist point of view. I find the views of the truly atheist intriguing, and I was curious how she got around some of the common barriers that would keep one from theism. However, I ended up leaving this book deflated because I felt that none of my questions were satisfied.
So overall, this review is truly a critique. I don’t like writing this kind of piece because someone poured their soul into this work. Also, because I feel unqualified. She is a published author… let’s see… where are my published works? None to be found. Somehow it feels like I am backseat driving.
So let me start out with what I did like. The author is a wonderful story teller. Her book goes back and forth chapter by chapter between the narrative of her life, and the commentary on those parts of her life. She brought me into the tale of her journey and I cared about the directions she was taking. Particularly fulfilling were the parts that dealt with her relationship to her father. She knows how to translate love to the written page.
What I did not like in her book was the commentary. To me, it seemed very contradictory and inconsistent. She seemed to vacillate between speaking of the large God of the Universe… to the smaller god of evangelical Christianity. She wanted to speak of the freedom of questioning… but only if you come to certain conclusions.
For example, she presents four filters with which she determines that Christianity is true. Christianity passes these tests, whereas other religions don’t. They are that the religion is:
* Livable
* Consistent
* Sustainable
* Transferable
She uses examples to show where Christianity passes each of these markers. The problem is that each of her points could be used against Christianity as well as for it. They also are passable by many other religions. These kind of logic efforts only work for the convinced.
I also feel she made a weak argument against pluralism. She falls into dualistic premises that require you to agree with her definitions to move forward in her argument… and she is rather prideful at that. She says that “world religions are incompatible at their core”, and of pluralists:
“World religions are NOT saying the same thing, but that is okay because religious pluralists either (1) understands each world religion better than those who practice it, or (2) is enlightened to the point where they can comprehend a reality (“all roads lead to the same god”) that either eludes or offends actual adherents of the great world religions.”
In this, she insists on the same “either/or” arguments that pluralists resist. To her, every Christian is a fundamentalist Christian; every Muslim is a fundamentalist Muslim, etc… What she ignores (or is unaware of) is the overlap that can exist. Where the Muslim who is genuinely moving toward the way of God finds himself having more in common with the Jewish man who is on the same journey, than he does the fundamentalists of his own faith tradition.
Also, she spends a lot of time using her filters trying to rationalize why Christianity is true. Yet in the end, it was a “Damascus Road” experience that brought her to Christ. She wants to show that Christianity can be rationally discerned… but that was not her route to conversion. It kind of felt like a bait and switch.
I have no problem with a “Damascus Road” experience because I had a similar conversion. I thought church and church people were annoying and God was far away. In less than an hour, God became my personal obsessive compulsive disorder.
But the more I learn about other religions, I discover that all my Christian experiences and arguments can be duplicated in those religions as well. The author tells the story of how a certain miraculous event stumped her atheistic mind. However, I have heard similar tales told in every branch of Christendom and other religions as well. Her conversion story can be told in every religion since time began.
My difficulty is not that she had these experiences… but that she tries to make them sound unique. That somehow these validate Christianity, while invalidating everything else.
So in the end, I didn’t see where she had anything new to offer. When she was an Atheist, she was right and everyone else was wrong. Now she is a Christian; and she is right and everyone else is wrong.
She switched jerseys, but is still playing the same game.
Jul 28th, 2009
kmcdade
In this book, Chole writes about her journey from adamant atheist to ardent believer. It’s an interesting read. Chole keeps some suspense going throughout the book, leading up to the moment, the encounter that made her a believer (which I found anti-climactic, but sometimes real life is anti-climactic).
The book is also an apologetic, or an explanation of why the Christian faith is true. A lot of this does make sense and matches my own experiences, but some of it irked me.
For instance, Chole says that she’s grateful for “the privilege of learning from Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh and Christian friends.” However, she also implies that pluralism (the idea that other faiths are equally good roads to God) is wrong, and that Christianity is the only correct faith. I wonder how her Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu and Sikh friends feel about that?
Chole explains four filters she uses to determine whether a faith is a valid one:
Is it consistent at its core?
Is it livable and not just quotable?
Is it sustainable through life-size pain?
Is it transferable to others (will it work for people in other cultures, economic situations, etc.)?
She makes a good case that Christianity passes these filters, but I suspect that devout people of other religions could make a strong case for their faith passing as well.
I did like Chole’s statements that God is not bothered by questions about faith, and that it’s OK to question.
“Believing does not mean that you will no longer have questions. Believing does not mean that you will turn off your brain.”
And another good statement:
“God neither dilutes discrepancy nor ignores complexity. God does not conveniently edit out the uncomfortable.”
Although this book irked me at times, it was an interesting read. I’m not sure it’s the kind of book an atheist would be willing to read, but it will be interesting to believers, and maybe to people on the edge of faith.
http://whatsthemission.wordpress.com
Jul 28th, 2009
joanna
Everyone who knows me knows I love word games, so the fact that there was a word search on the front of the book and at the beginning of every chapter gave me a good feeling. But they say not to judge a book by its cover, so I did actually read it…
Finding an Unseen God: Reflections of a Former Atheist by Alicia Britt Chole is a story in many parts. The story is told so well- in images, short chapters, alternating between her history as an atheist and her thoughts since. She describes the ways she’s dealt with the hard questions of evil in the world and a newly-found Christian worldview. I appreciated both the passion of her faith and the reasonableness of it. Between stories of her journey through atheism, she explains the intellectual struggle and answers she’s found since coming to Christianity. She asks of her new worldview or belief system: Is is consistent? Is it livable? Is it sustainable? Is it transferable?
The book is an engaging read, consisting of short two- or three-page chapters, almost “photographs” of experiences or thoughts, stories of her parents, her life as an atheist, and her Christian friends who never gave up on her and lover her well.
See the review at keeping feet
Aug 2nd, 2009
trooperdog
The book “Finding an Unseen God” by Alicia Britt Chole is part biographical and part apologetic. Chole shares a great deal about her life (especially as a teen) and chronicles why she was an atheist. But in alternating chapters, Chole shares how and why she came to believe in God and even gives reasons for her continued belief today. The anecdotal stories she shares from her childhood are interesting enough and provide an authenticity to her writing. I also appreciated the ways that she explained why faith in Jesus is sincerely credible. It is a short (170 page) book that is fairly easy to read.
This book is written in a creative way, with chapters alternating between biography and apologetic. At first, I was enraptured by her writing style and the creativity in how the themes alternated and woven together so beautifully. But by the middle of the book, the bouncing back and forth of the subject matter became a bit disjointed. It was only in the last few chapters that it wove together again in a way that worked well.
This book may not knock you over but I think it would be a great read for someone who is exploring belief in God. I’ll give it 3 out of 5 stars.
You can see this and other book reviews on my blog: http://www.chrishyde.info
Aug 3rd, 2009
theominai
I loved Alicia Britt Chole’s Finding an Unseen God. It pleasantly surprised me. I had automatically assumed that it was simply going to be another one of those books where a believer rants and raves about how blind unbelievers are for not believing in Christ (or rather their version of christ) However, Ms. Chole’s book is different. she doesn’t waste time trying to “prove’ beyond a doubt that God exists-because well that really is impossible. But she spends time reflecting and talking about why she believes and about her personal experiences with God. Her worldview about God wasn’t changed because some Christian was able to give her a lofty, complex theological argument, but it was changed when God came into her life and suddenly he became more than just a concept to be accepted or denied. He became real to her. I also enjoyed how, for the most part, she wasn’t pushy about her faith yet she did make some very interesting points that people of all faiths should consider. She talks about how faith needs to be transferable. It needs to make a difference in other people’s lives. That to me is what Christianity and religion should be about.
I strongly disagree however with her section on pluralism and how certain beliefs within each religion are “fundamentally incompatible” and that all religions can be “equally wrong but cannot be equally right.” I see this as one of those annoying arguments that people, regardless of whether they are a Christian, Muslim, etc use in order to try and project how their religion (rather their version of a certain religion) is the only way to salvation. Yes the traditional Christian belief is that Jesus is the only way to salvation, just like, If I’m not mistaken the traditional belief in Islam is that Islam is the only way to meet God. However, just because a belief is traditional or orthodox does not mean that it is the only interpretation supported by the sacred texts. There are Christians who truly follow and love the Bible, yet do not believe Jesus is the only way or they don’t believe that salvation means to be saved from eternal damnation.
No I don’t believe all religions are “equal” for example I am abhorred by the extreme fundamentalism that can run through religions-a fundamentalism that promotes hate nor do I agree with people who are just like, “oh all religions are the exact same” without even understanding or valuing the complexities and various beliefs that each religion carries. But I do believe that each religion carries basic truths that can point people towards God.
Sorry, I got off the topic a little. But all in all I did thoroughly enjoy Chloe’s Finding God.
Aug 4th, 2009
knowtown
I was genuinely looking forward to reading Alicia Britt Chole’s Finding and Unseen God. It is marketed as the reflections of a former atheist and the story of her journey towards faith. It is stitched together in a very creative, non-linear way that leaves the reader moving back and forth between the beginning of the story and the end until the two streams overlap in the middle. For the most part it is very well written and Chole certainly has a gift of painting pictures with words (although sometimes I felt like she overused it).
I would have liked this book a lot more if I did not have two mistaken expectations going in. I was expecting to hear the voice and language of an atheist “young woman.” Instead, I discover that Chole came to terms with her atheism around her middle school years and had come to faith around her transition into college. It was difficult for me to appreciate the views expressed in the book as accurate reflections of a teenager. There is no question that Chole is articulate and was probably a very intelligent child but it was still hard for me to believe her narration of a fully formed atheism at that age. And this revelation leads to my second disappointment.
I was hopeful that I would hear language from someone who did not grow up within the Christian bubble. Secretly I was wishing that the tone would be more like Anne Lamott and nothing could be farther from the truth. Chole’s vocabulary and narration sounds like someone who grew up in an Evangelical, Charismatic church. The references she cites (Josh McDowell??) seem out of character for a self proclaimed (former-)atheist.
These two things seemed too disingenuous for me to connect to the story in any meaningful way. For the most part, I really did enjoy Chole’s writing style but the content left me wishing for more.
Original review posted: http://www.ecclesialdreamer.com/?p=1235
Aug 5th, 2009
KingdomGeek
“Reflections of a Former Atheist.” Any author bold enough to tag a book with such a phrase no doubt opens him or herself up to ugly criticism. But there is nothing ugly about Alicia Britt Chole’s Finding an Unseen God.
The book begins with a simple word search, a jumble filled with words like “pain,” “debate,” and “angst” — words which evoke the feelings expressed at the outset of chapter 1 (or “52,” by the books whimsical numbering scheme): “Truth was dead. // God had never lived. // Life was filled with pain. // And death was the end of life.”
With that, we enter Alicia’s world, a world which she presents to us as two interwoven stories: her relationship with her father, and her discovery of and relationship with the Father.
Through honest reflections from both “sides” of her life, Alicia allows us to walk with her through her life, from atheism to one of a living, active faith in a living, active God.
And while Finding an Unseen God is not meant to be a treatise on theology or apologetics, the questions which Alicia raises for us are worthy of any theology text. Is the Bible reliable? Aren’t all religions equally valid? What about evil? Why is life so painful? Although at times, I did feel as though Alicia didn’t really answer the questions she raised as thoroughly as she should have, and no doubt a critical atheist reading the book would be quick to point that out. However, if her goal was to simply generate thought, engaging readers to question for themselves why the world is the way it is or even why so many Christians have been willing to die for what they have believed in… Then I think Finding an Unseen God does an excellent job.
With short chapters and engaging writing, Finding an Unseen God is a page-turner that I recommend.
Original review available at KingdomGeek.
Aug 7th, 2009
Monster
Finding An Unseen God
The Book
The reason I chose this month’s selection was its intriguing title: “Finding an Unseen God: Reflections of a Former Atheist”. It also didn’t hurt that the author’s website says she listens to Jason Upton – one of my favorite artists.
Alicia Britt Chole takes 165 pages and 52 chapters to trace her journey from birth to belief, fleshing out a work that is one part memoir and one part Christian apology. What’s interesting – and very postmodern of her – is that the chapters do not appear in strictly chronological order, but are arranged to form two complementary threads. One begins with the last chapter and counts down in descending order, while the other begins with chapter 1 and moves in ascending order. Thus, the first chapter is chapter 52, the second is chapter 1, the third is chapter 51 and the fourth is chapter 2, etc. – so that the reader experiences a sort of flashback effect as the book unfolds.
Quote
“Beliefs are celebrated in the light. They are tested in the dark.”
The Good
The book is an honest and touching look at the author’s conversion from atheism to Christian faith, culminating in an unexpected experience of the mystical presence of Jesus. I found the book simple, humble and authentic. It was also a quick read. I finished it in only four or five sittings.
The Bad
When I read a book that centers on an author’s personal experiences, I usually have two questions: (1) who is this and (2) why should I care? I recently read “Come be My Light”, a sort of spiritual biography of Mother Theresa as told through her personal letters. As I read, I never once doubted that the story was a noteworthy one. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about “Finding an Unseen God”. Chole’s story is told with honesty, and is by no means an unpleasant read, but I nevertheless wonder why Bethany House thought it noteworthy. An author doesn’t have to be Mother Theresa to grip us with her story, but in this case I’m not convinced that Chole’s testimony is any more compelling than that of 2/3 of my Christian friends. They too were unbelievers who encountered Jesus. Should they all get book deals?
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that “Finding an Unseen God” is a light and enjoyable read and makes a rather winsome case for Christian belief in a skeptical age. I’d have no problem recommending it to seekers or those who are taking their first steps on the Christian way. As I’m sure Chole herself would be willing to admit, however, it’s not going to convince any atheists.
Aug 13th, 2009
lamo5973
I read Finding an Unseen God by Alicia Britt Chole on my way out to Denver for a week away. The short book (160 pages, I believe) was perfect for the flight. The book is Chole reflections on moving from Atheism to becoming a Christian. Chole’s writing was relaxed and certainly her goal was to tell her story rather than convince other atheist that they too should become Christians. It is the narrative of Chole’s life and experiences that catch your attention.
The most interesting thing about this book from me was not what I read, but the conversations that it opened up. I read the book during a four hour flight to Denver where I was seated next to a recent graduate of the Univseristy of Colorado who was a self-professed “Intellectual” and “Agnostic.” While I read on a plane, as a pastor I have created my own policy of attempting not to listen to headphones in order to be free for conversations. Why? Because I have had the most fascinating experiences talking with the people around me.
This was no different. While he admitted to being skeptical of Christianity, certain events in his life had led him to believe that everything happens for a purpose. After reading the back cover of the book, he thought a book like this could help with his own spiritual journey. So I gave him the book. To my mild suprise, he accepted it. (Which is why this is light on substance!) At the end of the jetway as we exited the plane, we shook hands and we went our seperate ways. I prayed that Chole’s book might help him to find God through Jesus as well.
Aug 15th, 2009
SPalm
If you’re looking to engage a delightful story of discovering faith, then Alicia Britt Chole’s Finding An Unseen God: Reflections Of A Former Atheist is just right for you. As one who frequently digests academic theology, Chole’s memoir of faith was a wonderful change of pace. Sprinkled with the occasional clever turn of phrase and Chole’s magnificent way of drawing the reader into her story, Finding invites reader’s to simply sit back and hear a beautiful story of emerging faith.
The Best Part
The first thing you’ll notice when you pick up Finding is the captivating manner in which it is told. The cover itself is an actual word-find. And for folks like me, who loved word finds as a kid, I was super-excited to be able to work the word-find before diving into the first chapter. Each of these words, turns-out, becomes important to Chole’s story. What’s more, as Chole tells her story, the chapters are intermixed. The first chapter you’ll read is Chapter 52 and the second chapter is Chapter 1. Half of the book (every other chapter) tells Chole’s story from the perspective of her rearing, while the next chapter recounts where she is now and how she is interpreting the present and past events of her life. The reader is moving through Chole’s story in two directions.
Second, Chole’s story itself is told with a clear voice and delighting manner. You’ll feel as if you’re sitting with Alicia and hearing her talk about growing up as an atheist only later to encounter Jesus. As you engage Chole, you’ll sense that life has been dark and bleak and black for your friend, yet it’s that blackness that somehow lead her to the foot of the cross, as darkness often does. Chole becomes a conversation partner, someone you sit and have coffee with as she reveals just enough of herself that you are interested and feel as though you’re getting to know her, and not so much that it seems as if she is neurotic and hogging the conversation.
What’s more, if like me, you’re concerned deeply with gender-justice in churches, you’ll be refreshed by a genuine encounter with God that reminds you why female voices, prayers and pens are important to the church.
Third, you’ll hear from a committed Atheist. While her arguments for her own atheism may not be the strongest you’ve ever heard, they vibrate with rings of authenticity that allows the reader to know that for whatever reasons she choose to be an Atheist, so did choose for herself.
The Second to Best Part
It wouldn’t be right to leave you simply with the brilliance of this little book, there is one thing – that while not bad – you might want to be aware of before you plunk down your stimulus rebate on this book.
What is it? you ask. Simply this: At times, Chole gets a little preachy. I’m usually OK with preachy, after all, if someone has a message, we’re bound to advocate it strongly. However, when Chole’s preachy-ness reared its head in this artfully designed conversation, it put the brakes on the discourse. It was the only time I felt that Chole was losing her voice and needing to insert some paranesis at the request of a publisher. Can’t you hear that conversation now, “No one wants to just read your story, you have to advocate some kind of behavior.” This, however, is it. That’s the only editorial comment I will offer.
Should You Buy It?
Finding An Unseen God is worth the time, and it won’t take much of it. If you’re looking for advocacy or heavy-duty theology then this book is not for you. If, on the other hand, you want to reconnect with the simple story of a loving God who pursues His people even when they’d rather be left alone, then get your copy today.
Aug 17th, 2009
Courtney
When I first started reading Finding An Unseen God by Alicia Britt Chole I was a little sceptical. I saw that it was listed under apologetics /biography (Which is not my usual type of read). But then I opened the book and was immediately hooked. The way she writes in such short bursts of chapter immediately sucked me in. I was also very fascinated by the way she interwove her story of conversion with her story of growing up finally converging in the middle. Every other chapter is one story and the other half was telling another story. The short chapters made it so I could read only a little at a time and then pick it right back up. Although it was such a great read that I was sucked in and could not put the book down. She does get a bit preachy with her apologetics. But coming from a former atheist it made it so much more interesting for me. My boyfriends brother is a atheist who was formerly a believer. As you can imagine that is why I was drawn to this book. Her apologetics made me understand better how to talk to him, understand him and be more sympathetic for him. I definitely recommend this book for anyone, but I really recommend this book if you know any one searching for a unseen God.
Aug 18th, 2009
heatherpreckel
I am part of a blogger book review for The Ooze and this month I read Finding An Unseen God by Alicia Britt Chole. When I got the book I was surprised at how thin it was and even more surprised at how quick a read it was. I was pleasantly surprised by how engaging it was. Alicia gives you little snipits into her life and it is very easy and fun to read. She gives some history into her childhood years and how her family was very intellectual and how that played a big part into her belief system. She does seem to get a little preachy at times with her views now but it didn’t bother me too much since it quickly moved onto something else. I would have loved to hear more detail in her story about her life but for a quick read this is an excellent book. I would highly recommend this to anyone that may not be a christian or if you know someone that is searching for God. It is definitely not a book full of arguments of why you should turn from Atheism to Christianity, but it is a delightful book with a sweet story of one girls journey to just that and to a God that loves her very much.
Aug 19th, 2009
heatherpreckel
I am part of a blogger book review for The Ooze and this month I read Finding An Unseen God by Alicia Britt Chole. When I got the book I was surprised at how thin it was and even more surprised at how quick a read it was. I was pleasantly surprised by how engaging it was. Alicia gives you little snipits into her life and it is very easy and fun to read. She gives some history into her childhood years and how her family was very intellectual and how that played a big part into her belief system. She does seem to get a little preachy at times with her views now but it didn’t bother me too much since it quickly moved onto something else. I would have loved to hear more detail in her story about her life but for a quick read this is an excellent book. I would highly recommend this to anyone that may not be a christian or if you know someone that is searching for God. It is definitely not a book full of arguments of why you should turn from Atheism to Christianity, but it is a delightful book with a sweet story of one girls journey to just that and to a God that loves her very much.
Aug 19th, 2009
edan0889
Finding An Unseen God
The best writing advice I ever heard was, “Never tell anyone about what you are writing, it simply puts unnecessary pressure on your creativity.” Nevertheless, when I got the opportunity to write a review of the book “Finding An Unseen God”, I told everyone. I told my family. I told my friends. I told the guys at work. I even told the lady in front of me at the checkout line in the grocery store. Not surprisingly, I have been struggling to finish this review ever since.
However, writing the review and reading the book are two totally different experiences. Like all good books, reading this one was no struggle at all. I raced through the pages and I am a slow reader. Step by step I look at every word… thoroughly, but despite my reading impairment, Alicia Britt Chole’s (show-lee) new book was a joy. I got the chance to look deep into her experiences leading from atheism to faith and it was amazing. I literally laughed and cried and nodded knowingly throughout the entire book…
To read more of my review go to my blog at:
http://edan0889.blogspot.com/2009/08/finding-unseen-god_20.html
Aug 20th, 2009
kristinemac
I have been reading a book called “Finding An Unseen God” Alicia Britt Chole. I have to say this was an interesting read for me and you’ll think it odd because I found the book difficult to enjoy.
In “Finding An Unseen God”, Alicia employs a kind of “internet board” “thread” style of writing. While interesting in a chat room or news group, I found it distracting on the printed page. Jumping from thread to thread, backward and forward in the timeline of her story, created confusion more than interest for me. I truly had a difficult time wanting to know more about her story. So I put the book down for awhile.
It took awhile, but I did finally return to the book. It is a very easy read. The chapters are two pages each, written in a conversational tone that is descriptive but not overly challenging. It was this personal style, despite the varying “threads” of story, which eventually won me over…
To read more of my review go to my blog at:
http://www.kristinemcguire.com
Aug 23rd, 2009
jmmccoy
I think “Finding An Unseen God” by Alicia Britt Chole is an underpainting.
All paintings must have an underpainting to have depth. Her book presents the reader with great possibility for spiritual exploration and has moments of great beauty and poignancy. Unfortunately, I believe it is unfinished.
Once a maker is finished with their work, it is our job (as readers) to wrestle with the meaning and the impact of the meaning upon our lives. As a reader, I see Chole’s desire to present us with the mystic and fleeting qualities of memory and the wonderful interweaving that can happen as memories play against each other to create a rich pattern. There are hints of that here, but in the end it comes off as formulaic.
She uses two interwoven narratives to tell the story; one forward and one backward. However, this comes off more as a device and does not resemble the flow of one’s ability to recall the spotty images, sounds and bits of story that make up the layers of remembering. Perhaps, if there weren’t chapter numbers running in opposite directions, I would not have noticed this as much. But even here is revealed a desire to help the reader to “connect the dots” or in a more concrete sense to literally “solve the puzzle”. Throughout the book there are a series of word or letter grids that, at first glance invite the reader to dig into unknown. Later, you find the answers are in the back of the book. My intention is not to be snobby about these details. I think that they are important in that they characrerize the very essence of this work to me- we are presented with what looks like an exploration into the unknown, wide open with possibilites…only to find the answers in the back of the book.
I don’t mind having an answer. After all, the title tells us we are going to find God by the end. However, for all the searching, longing, hoping, losing hope and hoping again I’m left feeling flat by the end. She tells us she meets God and is changed, which is truly wonderful. The buildup that leads us to this climax seems to promise something gripping and substantial but in the end feels thin. I love so many of the ideas she is exploring, but in the end I think the vehicles she uses contradict each other in intention and ultimately weaken this as a finished work.
Oct 22nd, 2009
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