A book for anyone who, for whatever reason, is thinking or re-thinking their Christianity. Something Absolute by Ruth Jolly weaves movingly and intelligently Jolly’s insights into her Christian faith with a powerful story of her son's recovery
A book for anyone who, for whatever reason, is thinking or re-thinking their Christianity. Something Absolute by Ruth Jolly weaves movingly and intelligently Jolly’s insights into her Christian faith with a powerful story of her son's recovery
Christian life (general), Christianity (general), Religious
The Christ-like spaces, that she is able to open up for her readers, allow for that rarest of literary achievements: the possibility for hearts to be not only warmed, but transformed. The Church Times
Ruth Jolly, for whom spiritual conviction co-exists with intellectual ambivalence had in middle age stopped wrestling with questions of faith when- On a bitter February day, Charlie, her student son, crashed in a light aircraft. Witnesses who saw the plane hit the ground, expected to recover only bodies, but against all the odds, Charlie lived. Airlifted to hospital with horrific injuries, he continued to live. As his hold on life strengthened, Ruth kept a scruffy, bemused, emotionally-charged diary. It compelled her to ponder her comfortably vague ideas about Christianity - but the diary itself remained painfully unreadable. Then, in a cold February start to Lent, she picked up the diary and began to read it alongside the New Testament book of Acts. To her utter astonishment, in the company of the earliest Christians she found a way to think clearly again: about survivors, about purpose, about faith and above all, about love. This is a book for anyone who, for whatever reason, is thinking or re-thinking their Christianity.
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The Christ-like spaces, that she is able to open up for her readers, allow for that rarest of literary achievements: the possibility for hearts to be not only warmed, but transformed. ~ The Revd Chris Chivers, Canon Chanceller of Blackburn Cathedral, The Church Times - April 2010
A deeply forthright, deeply personal and brave book, which will be humanly helpful to many people. ~ Edward Hirsch (Poet), President of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, New York.
Interviewed last year, Charlie had just learnt about his mother’s plan to write a book. “I’ve no idea what she is going to put in about me,†he said at the time. My guess is that he had even less idea about what she would end up putting in about herself. ~ Reg Little, The Oxford Times
Moving, rewarding and full of insights. ~ Fr Henry Wansbrough, Ampleforth Abbey
This is a wonderfully written book. It will stay with the reader for a long time, both as an inspiring story of human beings coping with a world-changing event and as an introduction to one of the great books of the New Testament. ~ Simon Small, Bestselling author of 'From the Bottom of the Pond.'
A powerful book ... read during Lent alongside the Acts of the Apostles it was very thought-provoking. ~ Revd Linda Harknett
The book states that it's for anyone who, for whatever reason, is thinking or re-thinking their Christianity. I believe many people will identify with the author. A different and captivating read. ~ Sarah Connor, Eternal Spirit Magazine
Something Absolute is firstly an interesting read, with some touches of loveliness in the prose. Ruth Jolly writes, including diary extracts, of the journey during and after her son Charlie’s survival from a plane crash, which she runs alongside a narrative of her reflections from the New Testament. There were a few expressions from the writer that gave cause to deliberate over and they would have to be read in context. For me the best part of the book was the love story between Charlie and Melissa. The woman who took Charlie on during his fight to rebuild a life and walk again, commanded my respect and affection.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable book and one that I would highly recommend. ~ Alex Forrest, Journalist and Broadcaster. (ITV News.)
You will find this book almost impossible to put down as you find yourself drawn into this vivid account of Charlie’s miracle. ~ Canon Nick Fennemore, Head of Chaplaincy and Bereavement Services, Portsmouth Hospitals. (Formerly of the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford)
A deeply forthright, deeply personal and brave book which will be humanly helpful to many people. ~ Edward Hirsch, American poet and President of the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
