Wednesday, 20 March 2019

Book Review: The Making of Us by Sheridan Voysey



Title:  The Making of Us
Author: Sheridan Voysey
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: 19 March, 2019
Website: themakingofus.com 


















Sheridan Voysey’s delightful new book, The Making of Us, jumped straight into my “unputdownable” category after I read the first few pages. This well written book tells the story of many journeys and is a fascinating read.

There is the physical journey which Sheridan takes to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, where his friend, DJ, joins him. The two then make a hundred mile pilgrimage on foot (mostly!) to Durham on the northeast coast of England, where the famous Lindisfarne Gospels are on display for a short while.  Sheridan’s descriptions are such that I felt as if I was travelling  with him—experiencing  the highs and the lows along with landscapes, seascapes and skyscapes. I marvelled at God’s Creation with him and met the many colourful characters Sheridan tucked into the pages.

The physical and spiritual journeys of Cuthbert, the 7th century monk who was one of the first evangelists in northern England, and other saints of yore, are interwoven with Sheridan and DJ’s journey. Interesting snippets of historical detail signpost the way and add to the richness of the narrative.

But the most important journeys are the spiritual journeys of Sheridan and DJ which seamlessly unfold through the walk. They seek answers to questions which we all ask at times such as: Who are we? What makes us who we are? What happens and who are we when our lives do not play out as we hoped or planned? Sheridan shares his experiences and epiphanies with us in a way which makes them relatable to our everyday lives.

At the end of the book there is an invitation to take a spiritual journey of our own. This is in the form of a Bible-based refection guide for each chapter, which will help us to learn more about God’s love and our identity in Him. I look forward to accepting the invitation and taking up the challenge of working through this section as I read the book again slowly so that I can savour every page.

I read this book hoping to enjoy Sheridan's writing and to learn more about drawing closer to God. It exceeded my expectations and I give it a five star rating.

I received a free copy of this title, but it is my own fair and honest review.