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ricefun's review
5.0
I can't say enough good about this book. I saw it as a recommendation - I believe through Goodreads - from a friend. I already love Sister Helen Prejean from her book "Dead Man Walking" and from hearing her in person at both Manchester College (now University) and at a People of Faith Against the Death Penalty conference several years ago. I purchased it as an audiobook and highly recommend it in that format. Hearing her story in her own words and inflections makes it even more personal and immediate. I will look forward to getting a printed copy and re-reading this memoir.
sde's review
5.0
First, a qualification. I have been following Sister Helen Prejean since she spoke at my church in Boston over 25 years ago, and have found her very inspiring.
This book chronicles her life before the "famous" part - before she takes on the death penalty as a cause. From her childhood, to her entrance into religious life at age 18, to her higher education, to her taking on social justice issues as part of her ministry. She does not downplay the importance of of her work, but she is humble throughout the book, and she does not gloss over her missteps or naivete.
Although Sr. Helen goes through many tough times, emotionally and spiritually, her joy always shines through in this book. Despite experiences drastic changes in both her own ministry and the Catholic church in general in her life, she continues to approach her life and career with positivity.
I am a post-Vatican II person, so, although I know all about the changes, I did not experience them for myself. Sr. Helen's book does a great job of capturing the excitement and the trepidation of that time. I could just feel her and her fellow sisters practically jumping off the pages with wonder, confusion, and glee during that part of the book. I think I finally somewhat understand what it was like to be part of the U.S. Catholic Church during that time.
The book is a great account of how people can change and grow throughout their lifetimes. Sr. Helen was always a loving person; she had just been sheltered from people different from herself so did not understand the life experiences of, say, those born into extreme poverty. As she says toward the end of the book, "I have a hunch I am going to be waking up till the moment I die." Her wonderful example personifies the reason that I don't like the trend of judging and dismissing people by what they did and thought years before. Everyone changes and grows, but if we dismiss them for previous acts and thoughts, they are actually less likely to be open to change. No one scolded or yelled at Sr. Helen or told her her privilege was showing. She was defensive at first as people described the reality of different kinds of lives to her, but she became open and had a turnaround in her views to become a great advocate for political change in this country rather than shutting herself off from the tumult.
And, once again, she has become an inspiration to me to begin thinking about what more I can do to nudge our structures a tiny bit to give less advantage to those who already have so much.
This book chronicles her life before the "famous" part - before she takes on the death penalty as a cause. From her childhood, to her entrance into religious life at age 18, to her higher education, to her taking on social justice issues as part of her ministry. She does not downplay the importance of of her work, but she is humble throughout the book, and she does not gloss over her missteps or naivete.
Although Sr. Helen goes through many tough times, emotionally and spiritually, her joy always shines through in this book. Despite experiences drastic changes in both her own ministry and the Catholic church in general in her life, she continues to approach her life and career with positivity.
I am a post-Vatican II person, so, although I know all about the changes, I did not experience them for myself. Sr. Helen's book does a great job of capturing the excitement and the trepidation of that time. I could just feel her and her fellow sisters practically jumping off the pages with wonder, confusion, and glee during that part of the book. I think I finally somewhat understand what it was like to be part of the U.S. Catholic Church during that time.
The book is a great account of how people can change and grow throughout their lifetimes. Sr. Helen was always a loving person; she had just been sheltered from people different from herself so did not understand the life experiences of, say, those born into extreme poverty. As she says toward the end of the book, "I have a hunch I am going to be waking up till the moment I die." Her wonderful example personifies the reason that I don't like the trend of judging and dismissing people by what they did and thought years before. Everyone changes and grows, but if we dismiss them for previous acts and thoughts, they are actually less likely to be open to change. No one scolded or yelled at Sr. Helen or told her her privilege was showing. She was defensive at first as people described the reality of different kinds of lives to her, but she became open and had a turnaround in her views to become a great advocate for political change in this country rather than shutting herself off from the tumult.
And, once again, she has become an inspiration to me to begin thinking about what more I can do to nudge our structures a tiny bit to give less advantage to those who already have so much.
k8iedid's review
4.0
Interesting read about Sister Helen Prejean's journey from spiritual to social justice nun.
siria's review
4.0
A warm and candid memoir, River of Fire discusses the first half of Sr. Helen Prejean's life, before she began her work as an anti-death penalty advocate, the work for which she is now best known. It focuses on how Prejean's ideas about faith and vocation gradually shifted, from an insular piety as a young woman to ones which engaged more fully with the complexity of poverty, racism, and other forms of injustice.
Reading Prejean's memoir reminded me that there are things I can admire about those who have religious faith. Reading the strident TradCath reviews of it here, which chastise Prejean for believing in God the "wrong" way, remind me of some of the many reasons why I walked away from Catholicism a long time ago.
Reading Prejean's memoir reminded me that there are things I can admire about those who have religious faith. Reading the strident TradCath reviews of it here, which chastise Prejean for believing in God the "wrong" way, remind me of some of the many reasons why I walked away from Catholicism a long time ago.
amarasanti's review
5.0
Absolutely loved this book! I grew up Catholic so that may be a huge part of why I loved it. However, the honesty that Sister Helen uses in this book is admirable. It follows her journey of sisterhood from the young age of 18 and you watch her unfold and become aware as an individual. She comes to understand what it means for her to be a spiritual person within the community. I was also very appreciative of her honesty in regards to the Catholic church itself and how she could balance being aware of things that did not ring true to her while still being fully committed to her life as a nun.
clairemc19's review
3.0
Some of the same confusing chronology as I found in Dead Man Walking but less of the inspiration. The pacing felt off — the final chapters in which she had great growth in her personal life and pursuit of social justice felt rushed while earlier parts of the book dragged on. Nonetheless, she is a gifted writer and inspiring public figure.
betiana's review
5.0
What a great way to start 2020. My wonderful friend Cynthia gave me this book for Christmas. My struggling soul was in need of these words. Sometimes is the work for justice and equality we lose sight of the internal transformation and spiritual awakening that is essential for any of it to have meaning. Sister Prejean describes her journey from novitiate to social engagement in clear, vivid prose that invites all of us to help bend the arc towards justice.
tbuoy's review
4.0
My only complaint about this book is that Sr. Helen Prejean calls Notre Dame "Notre Dame University" for 2/3s of the book and then says that the golden dome is over the stadium.
heres_the_thing's review
4.0
I had the opportunity to hear Sr. Helen Prejean speak and reading this is very similar to hearing her talk. She is wonderful and energized and her call to action (her journey towards that call) fills me with hope.