Surprised by Oxford
I started reading Surprised by Oxford, and I couldn’t put it down.
Surprised by Oxford is the story of Carolyn Weber. At the beginning of the book, Weber is an undergraduate student in Canada who knows only one evangelical, a professor who “would have annoyed me, except for the fact that I respected him so much.” Shortly before this professor dies, Weber has a conversation with him that unsettles her and gets her thinking.
Weber receives a Commonwealth Scholarship and starts her studies at Oriel College, Oxford, founded in 1324. She arrives in Oxford with heavy suitcases full of shoes, feeling lost and unprepared for the new life ahead, away from her college sweetheart and family.
Weber’s memoir makes me ache for the beauty of Britain, a land “full of magic; of fairies and elves; of Midsummer dreams; of witches’ moons, enchanted wardrobes, and nursery rhymes—all the things North Americans supposedly do not have. Or perhaps we do have them, but we are not aware of them.” My father lived in England until he died in 2006, and I used to visit him regularly. I haven't returned since his death, except for a layover at the airport, and Surprised by Oxford made me eager to go back.
But the book is much more than an account of a place I love. It’s the story of friendship, of God’s gentle but relentless pursuit of Weber, and of longing. Weber is a skilled writer. She knows how to write and how to weave literary quotes and U2 into her story. It’s one of those books that, as a reader, you don’t want to end. As I finished the last page, it left me longing for more but also deeply satisfied by what I had read.
I loved this book for a few reasons.
First, it’s so well written. Pack this book in a beach bag and read it as part of your summer plans. If you like good writing, I think you’ll enjoy this book.
Surprised by Oxford highlights the beauty of the ancient city and university, friendship, and, above all, God. Part of our church’s mission statement is to show “the beauty of relationship with Jesus.” I tried once to shorten this statement by chopping the part about beauty. Can't we just introduce people to Jesus without all the extra details? Not so fast, one of my friends said. Focusing solely on truth can cause us to overlook beauty. Weber’s book revealed God's beauty to me, filling me with awe at how wonderful he is and how graciously he shares that beauty with us. It reminded me of what I’m quick to miss in my rush to get to truth.
Surprised by Oxford filled me with hope. We don’t stand much of a chance once God starts to pursue us. He enthralls us and ravishes us with his love.
Weber has written a second memoir, too, and it’s also good. If you’re looking for a couple of good books to read this summer, start with Surprised by Oxford and then continue to Sex and the City of God. You'll enjoy them, and like me, you'll likely realize the story God is telling around us that we often overlook.
More from Amazon.com | CarolynWeber.com
Update: Surpised by Oxford is now a movie too.
