Book Review: This Homeward Ache
Sometimes, hope comes out of a confident faith planted in our hearts by God. Hope grows as we learn to rest in his trustworthiness. We reflect on the promises he has fulfilled, and it builds our trust in his faithfulness for the future.
Other times, hope comes out of an experience we may not find words for. A sunset beyond description stirs in us a desire to see the glory of God. The smell of a newborn baby snuggled warm on your chest makes the warm fuzzies grow and your heart long for them to stay. A song. A poem. A moment in the midst of a crowd when you feel intimately tethered to something “other.” These things draw our hearts to Heaven with a longing so deep it hurts.
That’s what Amy Baik Lee gets at in This Homeward Ace.
This Homeward Ache is a series of memoir-like essays on the author’s experience of Sehnsucht—a sense of separation from and the ceaseless longing for a place one has never been. C.S. Lewis, the author points out, calls it Joy (in Surprised by Joy). The author’s argument is that these longings point us toward Heaven, the home where we belong but have not yet reached.
I appreciated the author’s personal approach to this subject. It’s not academic or theological, though theology is woven throughout, but rather personal anecdotes that showed me how Amy experienced Sehnsucht and what she did about it. Sometimes, she felt it in nature, sometimes in moments with her children. Sometimes, she recognized it through pain and struggle. I found myself thinking of times when I’ve experienced Sehnsucht—did I notice?
I enjoyed the many literary references throughout the book: Anne of Green Gables, George MacDonald, C.S. Lewis, and Tolkien. Amy’s descriptive writing reminds me of L.M. Montgomery’s descriptions of Prince Edward Island. They are enjoyable because they are sensory-rich. Some readers will appreciate the chapters that delve deep into connections with Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.
I think the author struggled in a few chapters in the second half. The pacing slows. And, at times, the flowery descriptions felt burdensome to read through. Still, she makes her point clearly and effectively. “This one and all the rest are more precious to me now that I know what they mean; now that I believe Christ has gone to prepare a place for me, I am free to receive the signposts as aids intentionally sent.”
I would recommend this book to readers who are sensitive to beauty and those who enjoy C.S. Lewis’s writing, both fiction and nonfiction, as well as anyone interested in Heaven on earth.
Cautions
The author shares her experience with postpartum depression.
Special Interests
The author describes her unique life as a Korean who was brought up as an American, with years spent in both Korea and America.
Star Rating
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars: I give This Homeward Ache 4 stars because it felt like a lovely conversation. The sometimes-burdensome descriptions kept me from giving it 5 stars.
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This Homeward Ache is a series of memoir-like essays on the author’s experience of Sehnsucht—a sense of separation from and the ceaseless longing for a place one has never been. C.S. Lewis, the author points out, calls it Joy (in Surprised by Joy). The author’s argument is that these longings point us toward Heaven, the home where we belong but have not yet reached.
I give This Homeward Ache 4 stars because it felt like a lovely conversation. The sometimes-burdensome descriptions kept me from giving it 5 stars.