Faith and Fiction Roundtable: Godric

Aug - 28 - 2010
Godric
Godric by Frederick Buechner is one of my all time favorite books. In fact, I don’t think it’s too big a stretch to say it’s one of the great works of our language. It’s a thing of astonishing depth and beauty and anyone that aspires to write should make time to read it. Outside of Shakespeare or Milton, I don’t think I’ve ever read a book so meticulous in its language, so thoroughly winnowed to the kernel of meaning. Wendell Berry often talks of the writer’s craft as an economy of words; a writer’s job is to sweat over his words and spend them with thrift. And that, I think, is where Buechner’s Godric so amazes me. It’s a short book, not even a novel by current standards, yet each word is placed just so and taken as a whole they carry the weight of volumes.

I was delighted, then, to learn that Godric was this month’s Faith and Fiction Roundtable selection (hosted by My Friend Amy). Each month a small circle of bloggers are selected to read the month’s book and discuss it. A portion of the discussion is then posted on each blog and links are provided to the rest of the conversation. It was a pleasure to discuss one of my favorite books with these folks and I hope you’ll visit each of their sites and maybe even join in the conversation yourself. If nothing else, I hope you’re moved to read one of the great novels of the 20th century.

This month’s Faith and Fiction Roundtable is:

Unfinished Person
My Random Thoughts
The Fiddler's Gun
Shelf Love
Book Addiction
Books and Movies
Wordlily
My Friend Amy

Pete: I love the idea that Reginald's perspective is God's perspective, God's re-write via the lens of Christ. I'd always looked at it as a depiction of the church's white-wash of history (which seems to be the way Godric himself sees it), but I have a feeling your insight is much more in line with Buechner's intent. Thanks for showing me that.

I can't wait to read this book again. Sadly, it's one of those that I never seem to have my own copy of because I'm continually giving them away to someone who hasn't yet read it.

One of the things that always confounds me about the book is the strange semi-romantic relationship between young Godric and his sister. It always strikes me as borderline inappropriate and a little creepy, but at the same time undeniably beautiful. Anyone else notice that?

Teresa: I'm glad you brought up the relationship with his sister, Pete, as uncomfortable as it is. I'm still sorting out how I feel about it because, as you say, it's presented as something beautiful, but also inappropriate. And even as Godric deals with all his sowing of wild oats, it's his affection for Burcwen that haunts him. It seemed to me like a lot of his guilt feelings came from there. I couldn't quite make up my mind what Buechner was trying to get at there.

Amy: Yes! I was very uncomfortable with the relationship, but didn't know what to make of its purpose at all.

Visit the sites listed above for the other portions of the conversation.