Frederick Beuchner

I came across Buechner while reading Philip Yancey's 'Soul Survivor', there Yancey speaks highly of Buechners books and gives a little anecdotal information that struck a chord in my mind. Low and behold I found one of Buechner's books (Open Heart) on the shelves in our organization's library. My appetite was now sufficiently whet. While I was on furlough in Taiwan one day, I wandered into the Page One bookstore in Taipei 101 (the tallest building in the world, yeah really it is!!) and found some of Buechner's books on the shelves there. Encouraged by what I read I went ahead and ordered a couple more, but the man has just written too much to make it possible for me to buy all of them, oh there are days I wish I lived close to a library!! How do you know which ones to buy anyway, again, an author who writes across disciplines and genres: theological/philosophical works, historical/biblical novels and some of the more surreal Christian (should I even use that word) fiction out there.

Depending on which book you pick up first, your impression of Buechner might be: This is weird (that's a good thing) or This is deep (that's also a good thing) or Is this guy on drugs? (that wouldn't be a good thing, but he isn't, which is a good thing!!).

So which ones should you read? Good question. I really enjoyed reading 'The Book of Bebb' but for an introduction to Buechner you might want to pick up 'The Storm'. 'Brendan' is a winner and in that same line of thought 'Godrick' will be enjoyable. For the more contemplative thinking type 'The Alphabet of Grace' or 'Whistling in the Dark'. 'Eyes of the Heart' is somewhat autobiographical and a slower read than the others, but once you're interested in this author it's a good one to help you understand a bit more about the man 'Behind the Book of Bebb'.

Highly recommended