Sharon Garlough BrownSensible Shoes: A Story about the Spiritual Journey (Sensible Shoes Series)

Almost two years ago, my friend Lorna told me that I just had to read this book called Sensible Shoes. I added it to my list of books to read, but I never got around to it. So, I was pleasantly surprised when, as a part of a wonderful “PhD Survival Kit,” she gave me a copy. When I was packing to go on my retreat, I slipped the book into my bag without really thinking about it. I figured, why not? It might be a good read.It was so good that I couldn’t set it down.The thing about Sensible Shoes is that it’s about a group of four women who are doing a long retreat and Brown’s writing style enables the reader to go on the retreat alongside the characters. This book is more than just a good novel, it’s a spiritual renewal—and for that, I think I would give the book 5 stars. But as a novel, it is also touching and helps reveal something intimate about the reader as the characters’ souls are being laid bare.From a literature perspective, the story is well done. The writing is superb and the way in which the author switches between the character perspectives keeps you wanting to read more and find out what happens. I’ve already written on the blog about how I related to each character, so I won’t take up space writing about that now. I will say that each character is so real, so relatable that it makes it feel like a true story. I guarantee that you have met women just like Meg, Mara, Hannah, and Charissa. Reading this novel, you might well find yourself thinking of a friend who, like Meg, needs to learn her worth. Or, you might be reminded of a former classmate who, like Charissa, makes your blood boil when she is being superficial and judgmental. Each character has different struggles, different addictions that keep them from being in perfect communion with God. The story, then, is how each overcomes those obstacles and moves forward to be in better communion with God and with each other. Since that is the story of each of our own lives and spiritual journeys, I think that makes Sensible Shoes a hopeful read.When the story reaches the bi-monthly meetings of the retreat group that the women belong to, there is a discussion in the story of a certain type of prayer. To help the reader in their own prayer life, Brown even includes a copy of the handout that the women receive from their retreat director in the story. I even borrowed from Brown in articles for my magazine. That’s how good these handouts are. With an M.Div. from Princeton and a job as pastor at an Evangelical church in Michigan, Brown is obviously an experienced retreat director in addition to being a great author—making me even more inclined to support her book. We ministers have to support each other.I highly recommend this great work of fiction and hope that you will take the time to read it. I guarantee it will help you in your spiritual life.

I bought this book for a book club. I couldn’t have known how much I would love it. Or how greatly it would impact me. I throughly enjoyed each of the characters and related to them each in a different way. The spiritual journey is beneficial without being cheesy. They do discuss childhood wounds and current life circumstances and there are some trigger warnings probably necessary for some, but they would spoilers, so I won’t list them here. With that said, they handle everything in this book with care and it isn’t graphic even with the topics that might be triggering. And I will say that I am not referring to sexual assault so in that regard this book is safe. Anyway, the social worker in me had to say that part (and that is a disclaimer for the whole series).This book will make you think and make you feel and gives you an opportunity to read for leisure or read and stop along the way to participate in the exercise it offers.This is the first book I have ever highlighted. Ever. I normally don’t like to highlight books (even text books all through college), but there were so many great bits of wisdom and quotable moments I wanted to remember that I would suggest you have your Bible highlighter (so they don’t bleed through) ready.I will return to the highlighted parts over and over and I will remember this series forever. You can read the first book alone, or any of them alone if you wanted to, but I suggest the whole series. I ready this entire series over the summer. Everyone I have recommended it to has loved it. And one of my coworkers read the whole thing in a week (on vacation so she didn’t do the journey part and plans to read again). The second book is background story without tasks throughout. The last two books have less exercise or reflection questions, but still offer a little bit for the people that missed that in the second book.I could write a novel about how much I loved this book and how the Holy Spirit used this book in ways I will never forget. I personally went through a lot while reading this series and this book was always right on time with the wisdom I needed.This book is amazing. And although I am a Christian, I normally don’t read Christian fiction.If you don’t want to learn more about faith and don’t want to hear about faith as a basis, then this book isn’t for you. I encourage anyone to read it regardless of your religion, but just know that this book isn’t preachy, but it is definitely faith based.

I’d recommended this series of books to anyone! I’ve read all 4 books in this series twice!

This is quite a unique story, part instructional non-fiction, built around the fictional account of four women from different backgrounds who meet at a Scared Journey retreat. It's compelling reading as we get into the detail of each of these women's lives and their journey towards God's heart. Even though I'm a man I was able to relate to all four of them at various stages of their journeys. Whether it was Charissa's perfectionism, arrogance and thirst for information, to Hannah's being lost in her calling, to Mara's struggle with a non-believing spouse and Meg's struggle with the loss of her parents and fiancé, I found a bit of myself in all of them.I particularly enjoyed how Brown combines the heart journey and desire for intimacy with God with the telling of the ladies lives. It's a tremendous practical demonstration of how we can pursue the heart of God while going about our lives incorporating various spiritual disciplines plus the importance of community (ie, each other) and guidance from a mentor (in this story it was the leader of the retreat: Katherine).The novel is filled with spiritual insight plus instructional guidelines as to how to incorporate various spiritual disciplines and provides a wonderful insight into a scared journey with the Lord.I'm excited to read the next one in the series.

I read a lot of non-fiction so venturing into the fiction world was new for me. I loved the story line and the biblical wisdom sprinkled throughout the chapters. I will definitely be moving onto book 2! Loved it!

I got this book for a book club I belong to. It was a great read. Couldn't stop reading it.

Boek met veel inzichten en wijsheid. Iedereen kan zich met de personages vinden. Dus

I read this really quickly which is unusual for me. It’s a challenging book in an easy to read style. Definite page turner with lots to think about and consider if you want to.

Ein tolles Buch! Ich kann es kaum aus der Hand legen und freue mich schon auf die restlichen 3 Bücher!

This book will challenge your own christian walk with Jesus. It follows 4 women and explores their pasts and the reasons they find walking with Jesus in a close relationship with Him. It is a great book to study with other women and find that most of us have had similar hiccups on our journey. There is a good study guide that goes with it. It is a book that you want to keep reading over and over. Although fiction it touches the heart of each reader to question their own spiritual journey.