Stephanie Morrill

You HAVE to read The Passion of Mary-Margaret

13 August 2010

Okay, everybody should immediately stop what they’re doing and pick up a copy of Lisa Samson’s The Passion of Mary-Margaret.

I’m about 2/3 through it, and this is going to be a serious contender for my all-time favorite book. (Unless Lisa totally botched the ending, which I’m guessing by the Christy Award it just won, she didn’t.)

I’d heard a lot of buzz about this book, including from my best friend Roseanna, who said she’d bring it to me when we saw each other in September, but then either forgot or wanted to keep her copy all to herself. I don’t blame her.

Would it be totally wrong to steal this copy from my church library? Because I totally want to. I want to re-read this book with my pencil in hand so I can underline particularly beautiful passages.

Okay, enough gushing.

The Passion of Mary-Margaret is about a religious sister (like a nun, but not cloistered) who has the coolest relationship ever with Jesus. He (Jesus) asks her to marry her lifelong friend, Jude. Who’s sexy, but unfortunately spent some time in Baltimore’s red light district and is now diseased.

I know that might not sound like a page turner, but it is. The story is bold and the writing fresh. And far more real than you’ll find in most Christian fiction. (I don’t think I’ve ever seen the word “helluva” used in another CBA book.)

The nitty-gritty of life is juxtaposed so beautifully with what it means to love Christ with all your heart. To be honest, the overt Christianity in the story and how well it works is challenging me as a Christian writer. I tend to downplay spiritual elements, yet I’m finding myself drawn to the authenticity of the faith represented in Lisa’s book.

Read it. READ IT, READ IT, READ IT.

And enjoy your weekend.

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