Book Review: The Life-Giving Table by Sally Clarkson

"Adults and children are not just bodies to be fed, but also minds to be challenged,
hearts that depend on emotional input to survive and to grow as healthy human beings,
and spirits that long for connection with God and purpose in life."
(Clarkson, p.6)

Let me start out by saying that I am really struggling with this review. It is not so much that I didn't like the content of the book, because I whole-heartedly agree with it. It is not the writing style of the author, because she is very descriptive with her words and does a wonderful job of painting a picture in your mind. As I was discussing this review with my hubby and daughter (the actual blog's author) I finally came up with a summary of my problem with the book:

It is too upper middle class.

I think our society, at least the part that is portrayed in most media outlets, is too upper middle class.

Of course, I probably think this because I am NOT upper middle-class. Hubby and I have made some choices in our life (leaving his "steady income" job due to theological principles, me staying home to homeschool our children, having a large family as opposed to a smaller one, etc...) that have designated us as much more "lower" income than even the average "middle-class."

Most days I am ok with this. But not always.

When I watch an episode of some home improvement/design show and my house does not even begin to look like that...

Not a good day for acceptance of the place where I am at.

When I see my children, three of the four grown to adulthood, still enjoying to come home and be with hubby and I and each other...

That's a good day for acceptance of the place where I am at.

I really think the author of The Life-Giving Table has a heart for families and wanted to challenge others to invest time together...intentional time together around the table, feasting on food and each other and especially the LORD. However, I just couldn't get past the "upper middle classness" (sorry, I just can't find a better word to describe it) in order to actually enjoy the book.

And I hated that because I was looking forward to reading it.

I DO support the topic completely. But to be honest, I got bored with the book in places simply because it wasn't anything "new" for me since Hubby and I have tried to incorporate these ideas for many, many years now. But it was more than that.

I just kept imagining myself at a younger age, when my kiddos were small and we were self-supporting missionaries. If I had been reading this book as a newbie to the idea at that stage of my life, I would have cried.

Cried that I couldn't fulfill the topic the way her word pictures were drawing it in my mind.

Why?

Lack of money. Plain and simple.

As I read the book, the feeling that things had to be so "upper middle classish" just kept coming through.

I am sure the author did not mean this. In fact, there were moments she tried to stress the fact that it did not have to be a certain way. However, it just didn't feel that way as a reader.

Sorry, but that is just how I felt.

So, although I really like the topic, and the author was very sincere in her portrayal, I just can't give it above 3 stars.

Sincerely,
The Mother