Call number
Collection
Publication
HarperOne (1999), Edition: Reissue, 192 pages
Description
Frederick Buechner's Godric "retells the life of Godric of Finchale, a twelfth-century English holy man whose projects late in life included that of purifying his moral ambition of pride...Sin, spiritual yearning, rebirth, fierce asceticism--these hagiographic staples aren't easy to revitalize but Frederick Buechner goes at the task with intelligent intensity and a fine readiness to invent what history doesn't supply. He contrives a style of speech for his narrator--Godric himself--that's brisk and tough-sinewed...He avoids metaphysical fiddle, embedding his narrative in domestic reality--familiar affection, responsibilities, disasters...All on his own, Mr. Buechner has managed to reinvent projects of self-purification and of faith as piquant matter for contemporary fiction [in a book] notable for literary finish...Frederick Buechner is a very good writer indeed." -- Benjamin DeMott, The New York Times Book Review "From the book's opening sentence...and sensible reader will be caught in Godric's grip...Godric glimmers brightly." -- Peter S. Prescott, Newsweek "Godric is a memorable book...a marvelous gem of a book...destined to become a classic of its kind." -- Michael Heskett, Houston Chronicle "In the extraordinary figure of Godric, both stubborn outsider and true child of God, both worldly and unworldly, Frederick Buechner has found an ideal means of exploring the nature of spirituality. Godric is a living battleground where God fights it out with the world, the Flesh, and the Devil." -- London Times Literary Supplement "Wityh a poet's sensibly and a high reverent fancy, Frederick Buechner paints a memorable portrait." -- Edmund Fuller, The Wall Street Journal… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Stbalbach
Godric is a historical fiction novel about the real-life 12th century English saint Godric who lived half his life a criminal rouge, and the second half a pious hermit. He was famous in his day and Buechner uses fiction as a vehicle to flesh out the details of his fascinating life, which crossed
What makes it curious is Buechner writes the novel as if it were the thoughts of Godric recanting his life as he nears death. The sentence structure, choice of words, the very thought process, is both alien but reconizable. Buechner does a good job of imagining the inner life and perspective of a medieval mind. It's as if listening to an actor at a Renaissance Festival tell a story in Old English (although its not Old English but Buechner's own invention). Nominated for a Pulitzer in 1981.
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paths with much Medieval history.What makes it curious is Buechner writes the novel as if it were the thoughts of Godric recanting his life as he nears death. The sentence structure, choice of words, the very thought process, is both alien but reconizable. Buechner does a good job of imagining the inner life and perspective of a medieval mind. It's as if listening to an actor at a Renaissance Festival tell a story in Old English (although its not Old English but Buechner's own invention). Nominated for a Pulitzer in 1981.
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LibraryThing member kevinbeasley
Godric is a beautiful story of the friction between who you are and who others want to believe you are. It deals with what happens in our hearts, regardless of who others want to make us to be. The character Godric is someone I'd love to know. Buechner does a wonderful job with the conflict that
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rages in our spirit and flesh. The key theme of grace rings loud and clear in this work. Show Less
LibraryThing member cbl_tn
Frederick Buechner's biographical novel tells the story of Godric, an Anglo-Saxon hermit who was born just before the Norman Conquest and who died just months before the murder of Thomas à Becket. At the time of the novel, Godric is nearing the end of his life. His biographer, Reginald of Durham,
In his early adulthood, Godric was an adventurer with few scruples. Whatever comforts he enjoyed in life were usually gained at another's expense. A mystical encounter on the island of Farne eventually led him to repent of his former lifestyle and to withdraw from the world and its temptations. However, a hermit's life couldn't free him from all temptation, for he carried the seeds of temptation in his thoughts and in his dreams.
Godric's words are infused with the wisdom found in contemplation and reflection:
That's five friends, one for each of Jesu's wounds, and Godric bears their mark still on what's left of him as in their time they all bore his on them. What's friendship, when all's done, but the giving and taking of wounds?
This would easily have earned five stars from me had it not been for Buechner's attributing to Godric one great temptation that troubled him throughout his life. It's not a common temptation, and I'm not sure that there is a historical foundation for it. I'm not convinced that the distance of 1000 years is sufficient justification for artistic license of this magnitude.
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is persuading a somewhat uncooperative Godric to tell his life story. The cadence of his words seems to flow straight from the 12th century to the reader's ear.In his early adulthood, Godric was an adventurer with few scruples. Whatever comforts he enjoyed in life were usually gained at another's expense. A mystical encounter on the island of Farne eventually led him to repent of his former lifestyle and to withdraw from the world and its temptations. However, a hermit's life couldn't free him from all temptation, for he carried the seeds of temptation in his thoughts and in his dreams.
Godric's words are infused with the wisdom found in contemplation and reflection:
That's five friends, one for each of Jesu's wounds, and Godric bears their mark still on what's left of him as in their time they all bore his on them. What's friendship, when all's done, but the giving and taking of wounds?
This would easily have earned five stars from me had it not been for Buechner's attributing to Godric one great temptation that troubled him throughout his life. It's not a common temptation, and I'm not sure that there is a historical foundation for it. I'm not convinced that the distance of 1000 years is sufficient justification for artistic license of this magnitude.
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LibraryThing member robinamelia
Brilliant imagining of an historical character. Takes the sentimentality out of the image of the ascetic hermit and makes him vivid and earthy.
LibraryThing member timmattsharpe
Very enthralling and interesting read. Took me the first 50 pages to get used to the writing style, though. Once I "got it", I really enjoyed it. I actually want to read it again now that I understand the flow. Sometimes it seemed like Buechner was trying a bit too hard to be "gritty" with his
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scatological and sexual references, but it was mostly true to his given style (medieval English). Show Less
LibraryThing member BradKautz
Recently I polled some friends to help me decide if I should next read a volume of theology or fiction. The response was unanimous…one person replied, voting for fiction. With this decided, choosing the particular book was fairly easy, as there was a copy of Godric (New York, Harper Collins,
Buechner has written the story of an English hermit, Godric, from the 12th century. It reads as part memoir and part biography, as Godric changes back and forth between the first- and third-person in the telling of his life’s story. It took a bit of time for me to acclimatize my brain to Buechner’s narrative style and vocabulary, given my 21st century existence, but once I did so I found Godric’s story to be compelling and to some extent, universal.
Godric is someone who moves through life making the most of the opportunities present to him at the time. He is someone whom I would characterize as a survivor. Things go awry, sometimes he knows he is doing wrong, but he does what he thinks he needs to do at the time to get through the day, choosing not to be concerned with the next day until the sun rises on it.
Godric has a sense of Christian ethics, as he occasionally ponders the implications of his actions from the perspective of the Gospel and a clear understanding that there is an eternal destiny for all persons, a destiny that could just as likely be Hell as Heaven. And while he seems to desire Heaven he knows that God’s will for him may be for the opposite.
As he looks back over his life Godric sees a point where there was a profound change in his heart for God, a change that came about not through any action on his part but which was entirely the work of God. Buechner writes “The Godric that waded out of Jordan soaked and dripping wet that day was not the Godric that went wading in.” Shifting to Godric’s voice he prays, “O Thou that asketh much of him to whom thou givest much, have mercy. Remember me not for the ill I’ve done but for the good I’ve dreamed. Help me to be not just the old and foolish one thou seest now but once again a fool for thee. Help me to pray. Help me whatever way thou canst, dear Christ and Lord. Amen.” (105)
As a Christian Godric was drawn to life as a hermit, but his latter life was no less boring than what came before. Over time his renown as a mystic grows and people seek him out for wisdom and guidance. But Godric knows the truth well, particularly that his own personal struggles with sin are really no different than before. Sin continues to plague him in thought, if perhaps less so in deed. But Godric also knows he belongs to God and he places himself before his Lord and Savior as his only hope for this world and the next.
I read this book knowing it was a novel and I presumed it to be fiction. At the end of Godric’s story Buechner has 2 pages of historical notes, and to my surprise I learned that there was really a Godric of Finchale, whose story was chronicled by a monk named Reginald, a character appearing in Buechner’s work and whose biography provides the framework for Buechner’s tale.
My intent in reading Godric was to enjoy some fiction and Buechner surprised me by incorporating theology to the story in a manner that transcends time. Godric’s struggle with sin is mine as well, and we both know that our only hope is in the mercy of Christ.
Having tasted Buechner once, I intend to explore his work again sometime. If you have never read him then I invite you to start here. Jump right in, for the water is delightful!
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1980), by Frederick Buechner, an author held in high esteem by several of my friends, sitting on the shelf above my desk. It seemed like the right time to dive in and see what the buzz was about. The water initially shocked my system, but then, like a swimming pool on a hot summer day, it became something very pleasant, which I was reluctant to leave when the day was done.Buechner has written the story of an English hermit, Godric, from the 12th century. It reads as part memoir and part biography, as Godric changes back and forth between the first- and third-person in the telling of his life’s story. It took a bit of time for me to acclimatize my brain to Buechner’s narrative style and vocabulary, given my 21st century existence, but once I did so I found Godric’s story to be compelling and to some extent, universal.
Godric is someone who moves through life making the most of the opportunities present to him at the time. He is someone whom I would characterize as a survivor. Things go awry, sometimes he knows he is doing wrong, but he does what he thinks he needs to do at the time to get through the day, choosing not to be concerned with the next day until the sun rises on it.
Godric has a sense of Christian ethics, as he occasionally ponders the implications of his actions from the perspective of the Gospel and a clear understanding that there is an eternal destiny for all persons, a destiny that could just as likely be Hell as Heaven. And while he seems to desire Heaven he knows that God’s will for him may be for the opposite.
As he looks back over his life Godric sees a point where there was a profound change in his heart for God, a change that came about not through any action on his part but which was entirely the work of God. Buechner writes “The Godric that waded out of Jordan soaked and dripping wet that day was not the Godric that went wading in.” Shifting to Godric’s voice he prays, “O Thou that asketh much of him to whom thou givest much, have mercy. Remember me not for the ill I’ve done but for the good I’ve dreamed. Help me to be not just the old and foolish one thou seest now but once again a fool for thee. Help me to pray. Help me whatever way thou canst, dear Christ and Lord. Amen.” (105)
As a Christian Godric was drawn to life as a hermit, but his latter life was no less boring than what came before. Over time his renown as a mystic grows and people seek him out for wisdom and guidance. But Godric knows the truth well, particularly that his own personal struggles with sin are really no different than before. Sin continues to plague him in thought, if perhaps less so in deed. But Godric also knows he belongs to God and he places himself before his Lord and Savior as his only hope for this world and the next.
I read this book knowing it was a novel and I presumed it to be fiction. At the end of Godric’s story Buechner has 2 pages of historical notes, and to my surprise I learned that there was really a Godric of Finchale, whose story was chronicled by a monk named Reginald, a character appearing in Buechner’s work and whose biography provides the framework for Buechner’s tale.
My intent in reading Godric was to enjoy some fiction and Buechner surprised me by incorporating theology to the story in a manner that transcends time. Godric’s struggle with sin is mine as well, and we both know that our only hope is in the mercy of Christ.
Having tasted Buechner once, I intend to explore his work again sometime. If you have never read him then I invite you to start here. Jump right in, for the water is delightful!
Show Less
LibraryThing member ylferif
Godric is the story of a man repeatedly found by God throughout a life filled with adventure and sorrow. Buechner has done an excellent job of telling Godric's story in its historical context as well as in the context of life: a man striving for God in a world full of evils that cannot be mended
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and sins he never intended to commit. Show Less
LibraryThing member janerawoof
The life of a medieval hermit and saint, Godric, in his own words and memories, and also as written down by Reginald, a monk. This gives you a glimpse into the medieval mind, especially into that of one who is sorrowful for his life and spends fifty years in reparation, praying to God. Before
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visions [or dreams] of a monk, Cuthbert, and a girl, Gillian, Godric lives the life of a peddler, merchant, pirate, steward to a lord, sexton to a priest, then gives his life to God. This beautiful story flowed like the River Wear. The author has turned it into a sort of rhythmical prose-poem, if I can use that expression. A must-read. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Pulitzer Prize (Finalist — Fiction — 1981)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1981
Physical description
192 p.; 7.8 inches
ISBN
0060611626 / 9780060611620
Other editions
Godric: A Novel by Frederick Buechner (Paperback)