Preview
  • Surprised by Oxford

  • A Memoir
  • By: Carolyn Weber
  • Narrated by: Nancy Peterson
  • Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (194 ratings)

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Surprised by Oxford

By: Carolyn Weber
Narrated by: Nancy Peterson
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Publisher's summary

Surprised by Oxford is the memoir of a skeptical agnostic who comes to a dynamic personal faith in God during graduate studies in literature at Oxford University.

Carolyn Weber arrives at Oxford a feminist from a loving but broken family, suspicious of men and intellectually hostile to all things religious. As she grapples with her God-shaped void alongside the friends, classmates, and professors she meets, she tackles big questions in search of truth, love, and a life that matters.

From issues of fatherhood, feminism, doubt, doctrine, and love, Weber explores the intricacies of coming to faith with an aching honesty and insight echoing that of the poets and writers she studied. Rich with literary references, Surprised by Oxford is at once gritty and lyrical; both humorous and spiritually perceptive. This savvy, credible account of Christian conversion and its aftereffects follows the Oxford liturgical calendar as it entertains, informs, and promises to engage even the most skeptical and unlikely listener.

©2011 Carolyn Weber (P)2019 Tantor
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What listeners say about Surprised by Oxford

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Indeed, surprised 

Deftly written, complex in its language, and yet easy to read, Surprised By Oxford is a delight. As an educator, I often try to choose a novel that will be easy to read, light on my mind. Surprised by Oxford is none of that! And yet all of that. I found the mental pictures and words and truths to be extraordinary. Definitely will revisit this novel again.

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Great story

This was a great story, and some episodes in it particularly edifying and moving. Dialog isn't always strong, but other than that it is very well written. I do wish I'd read the print book, because I think the reader wasn't the best, especially when it came to the male chatacters' voices...I think the dialog would have come across better without the reader.

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Wow!

What a great story! Well written, well performed. Deep and engaging! Wise use of your time to listen! Didn’t want to stop listening!!!

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Amazing

So impressed by the quality of the writing and how this connects with both the mind and the heart.

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Uplifting and inspiring!

I really appreciated the time Carol took to lay out her quandaries and problems with Christianity. I loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter too, and getting a glimpse into the world of a Master in English!

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Story is wonderful.

I want to get the actual book now that I’ve listened. The prose is beautiful.

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Enjoyable memoir of one life changing year in Oxford

I too spent a memorable summer in Oxford and my faith was restored and strengthened. I enjoyed Carolyn‘s story of meeting God there. My book is sufficiently book darted with quotes and questions and musings. The language was so beautiful.

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Carol’s story of faith reads like a wonderful novel

I appreciated how she was not shy to express every concern and question regarding following Jesus.

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Captivating and poetic retelling experience

What good writing should be. She is captivating with her word usage. She writes of vulnerability that we all can relate to.

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Another C.S. Lewis

Carolyn Weber has given a great gift to the 21st century in the category of spiritual memoir. Surprised by Oxford will give the listener many surprises but mostly an abiding sense in the relentless, loving pursuit of divine providence.

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1 person found this helpful