UC Book Club - I Julian

The UC Book Club will next meet on Wednesday, April 23 (a significant day in literature), at 4 pm via Google Meet to discuss I, Julian: The Fictional Autobiography of Julian of Norwich by Claire Gilbert.  Gilbert did her doctoral dissertation on real-life mystic Julian, then had two motivations behind creating the novel: to mark the 650th anniversary of Julian's 16 visions articulating Christ's love and to emphasize Julian's role as the first woman writer in English and thus worthy of standing alongside Chaucer.  This novel is both a good story and an exploration of faith.  Alex Peake Tomkinson in The Spectator notes that "[t]he clarity of the prose is striking, as is the ultimate serenity of Julian's contemplation."  Mary C. Flannery, writing in The Times Literary Supplement, emphasizes Gilbert's portrayal of women during a historical time frame where little is known about the feminine experience.  Christianity Today says that the book offers "a wonderful reminder that part of the mystery of fiction is its capacity to lighten the heart, give an adrenaline kick, and strip away preconceptions."

And if you're further interested, here is a link to a podcast that first made colleague Jefferson Callico aware of the book: https://www.seenandunseen.com/claire-gilbert-re-enchanting-julian-norwich