All I can say is wow.
I have been noticing this book for several weeks but I felt it too intimidating to actually read. Then my dear friend and bookstore colleague, Pat, told me she was reading it and not wanting to be outdone, I decided that I would as well! The book is: Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas. I was somewhat familiar with Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I knew he was a Christian pastor and important theologian who somehow died in a concentration camp in Germany during WWII.
I’m only five chapters in but I am completely hooked. There is so much more to this man than I could have ever imagined. Right now, I am immersed in his childhood and enjoying the stories of the Bonhoeffer home life which was in every sense idyllic. Dietrich’s parents were both extremely bright and well connected. On the maternal line, there had been influential artists, musicians, professors and members of the German royal court. On the paternal line, there were lawyers, doctors, professors and pastors. Dietrich’s father was a very prominent and well respected psychiatrist and his mother was also extremely bright and talented. The parents seemed to be in close agreement as to the raising of their children but it was Paula, who would teach them in the early years of their educations. She was very religious and felt it vital that her children be well schooled in all aspects of the Bible. The elder Bonhoeffer was not religious, thinking himself too intellectual but wanting his children to exhibit the morals and values that he felt could be learned from religion. Their life was filled with great love and respect for each other. Dietrich was one of eight children; all of whom showed intellectual prowess and varying degrees of artistic and musical talents. The love and wonder of these early years show no fore-shadowing of all the heartache that is to come.
I have long been interested in WWII and have thought for hours of how in the world did all that happen? How did Hitler gain such immense and pervasive control over an entire country? How did a few brainwash millions? How could seemingly ordinary people be convinced to carry out and condone atrocities which are unspeakable?
So far in my reading, I have learned a lot. I am piecing together a picture of pre-war Germany and of the German people that is putting better perspective on my questions. I am struck by the Germany which WAS and was later LOST. Before Hitler, before Germany declared war against Russia in 1914, Germany was a land of cultured and brilliant people; the country of Martin Luther; a religious and ordered place where music, opera and civility abounded and always was steeped in a strong sense of nationalism for their beloved country. But how does this Germany become that Germany?
I know that one day Dietrich Bonhoeffer will proclaim that he “believed it the plain duty of the Christian—and the privilege and honor—to suffer with those who suffered.” He will preach that ‘not to act’ is in fact ‘to act’ and that it is a Christian’s duty to make a stand for what he believes. I know that Bonhoeffer will make staggering choices that will cost him his life. All the cataclysmic pieces which need to fall are falling into place as I read page after page.
I’m going to blog about this book in installments. It’s too good and too important to tackle as a whole.
To be continued…
-Norma
Bonhoeffer
All I can say is wow.
I have been noticing this book for several weeks but I felt it too intimidating to actually read. Then my dear friend and bookstore colleague, Pat, told me she was reading it and not wanting to be outdone, I decided that I would as well! The book is: Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas. I was somewhat familiar with Dietrich Bonhoeffer and by that, I mean; I knew he was a Christian pastor and important theologian who somehow died in a concentration camp in Germany during WWII.
I’m only five chapters in but I am completely hooked. There is so much more to this man than I could have ever imagined. Right now, I am immersed in his childhood and enjoying the stories of the Bonhoeffers’ home life which was in every sense idyllic. Dietrich’s parents were both extremely bright and well connected. On the maternal line, there had been influential artists, musicians, professors and members of the German royal court. On the paternal line, there were lawyers, doctors, professors and pastors. Dietrich’s father was a very prominent and well respected psychiatrist and his mother was also extremely bright and talented. The parents seemed to be in close agreement as to the raising of their children but it was Paula, who would teach them in the early years of their educations. She was very religious and felt it vital that her children be well schooled in all aspects of the Bible. The elder Bonhoeffer was not religious, thinking himself too intellectual but wanting his children to exhibit the morals and values that he felt could be learned from religion. Their life was filled with great love and respect for each other. Dietrich was one of eight children; all of whom showed intellectual prowess and varying degrees of artistic and musical talents. Saturday evenings were set aside for concerts which included each of the children performing music and presenting theatrical plays. Vacations were spent at their grand cabin in the mountains or along the seashore. Their home was filled with artistic masterpieces befitting their position. The love and wonder of these early years show no fore-shadowing of all the heartache that is to come.
I have long been interested in WWII and have thought for hours of how in the world did all that happened happen? How did Hitler gain such immense and pervasive control over an entire country? How did a few brainwash millions? How could seemingly ordinary people be convinced to carry out and condone atrocities which are unspeakable?
So far in my reading, I have learned a lot. I am piecing together a picture of pre-war Germany and of the German people that is putting better perspective on my questions. I am struck by the Germany which WAS and was later LOST. Before Hitler, before Germany declared war against Russia in 1914, Germany was a land of cultured and brilliant people; the country of Martin Luther; a religious and ordered place where music, opera and civility abounded and always was steeped in a strong sense of nationalism for their beloved country. But how does this Germany become that Germany?
I know that one day Dietrich Bonhoeffer will proclaim that he, “believed it the plain duty of the Christian—and the privilege and honor—to suffer with those who suffered.’ He will preach that ‘not to act’ is in fact ‘to act’ and that it is a Christians’ duty to make a stand for what he believes. I know that Bonhoeffer will make staggering choices that will cost him his life. All the cataclysmic pieces which need to fall are falling into place as I read page after page.
I’m going to blog about this book in installments. It’s too good and too important to tackle as a whole.
So now you’re caught up with me. It’s 1916-1920 and Dietrich’s three older brothers have enlisted in WWI. Older brother, Walter, has just been wounded and will die just two weeks after arriving at the frontlines. This will devastate the entire family forever as their idyllic life ends and they struggle with moving on while grieving their own loss and the gradual disappearance of their beloved Germany.
To be continued…
9 responses so far ↓
1 Ellis // Aug 27, 2010 at 1:04 pm
I love this guy. A fine example of the person that wholly applies Jesus’ teachings. He lived them out knowing good and well the suffering he would endure for doing so, and felt it his calling and a blessing to suffer as he did. Bonhoeffer laid down his life for his friends. There’s also a great documentary on him worth checking out.
Miss you, Norma.
2 Norma // Aug 27, 2010 at 1:50 pm
hey Ellis……miss you too….this place is not the same without you!
I heard there was a documentary…I will look for it. Have you read this yet?
3 Ellis // Aug 27, 2010 at 3:24 pm
I have not, but you’re making it sound awfully good.
And an intro. by Timothy Keller!
4 Pat // Sep 1, 2010 at 4:05 pm
There is a lot to be learned from paying attention to your elders. Thank you, Norma, for not wanting to be undone by my reading a serious work of nonfiction. You will not be disappointed with the following chapters. We already know what happens to Bonhoeffer but like you, I had no idea about his loving, intellectual, strongly knitted family who placed responsibility toward others as a way of life. When he decided, as the author articulately relates, to live the life he felt like Christ intended us to live, he set himself up as an adversary of the existing German church which lip synched Hitler’s commands. This is an amazing biography that reads like a novel. There are even amusing events in this retelling of his life as well as insights into Bonhoeffer’s mind and social life. He loved museums, travel, the idea that the body and soul are both integral parts of the human experience envisioned by the artists of antiquity. I am not hurrying through this book because it is so good. However, it is interesting to be reading this book of superb nonfiction while beginning and tearing through the new book by Franzen, Freedom. It’s as though some literature genie stuck two of the best books on my bedside table. Just one last note. I found out about the Bonhoeffer book when I saw some special orders behind the fiction desk and ordered one myself. John (Johnny) Evans has always said we have a lot to learn from our customers. I believe we had the book on order for the store but some savvy readers had already placed their orders and I thank them for starting me on this amazing journey into the life and times of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
5 Rich in law // Sep 2, 2010 at 8:37 am
Hey Norm!
Came by to check on the Eddie Noel book (being a Holmes County boy) but thought I’d see what you’ve been reading, too. I must say that the Bonhoeffer book sounds like a book worth reading. Can’t wait to get into that one. BTW, do you know anything about Eric Metaxas? just curious. Take care and I’ll see you soon. Need to stop in and look at a few books anyway.
6 Norma // Sep 2, 2010 at 9:27 am
Come back….heaven knows I need all the “Rich in Laws” I can find!!
I stayed up way too late last night reading Bonhoeffer and funny you asked but after I put the book down I went back and read the fly leaf and the “About the Author” page! He is 47 years old, lives in Manhattan and is married with a daughter. His writing has appeared in The New York Times; The Washington Post and the Atlantic Monthly but what I wasn’t expecting was that he was the author of, “Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery”. Do you remember that book? It came out several years ago and made a big splash. Was on the New York Time’s Best Sellers List which floored me at the time given the subject matter. There was also a movie made from the book. Obviously, Metaxas knows how to write an interesting biography!
He grew up in Connecticut and graduated from Yale. He has always been known for his humor and the “About the Author” page tells a great story from Metaxas’ Yale graduation “Class History” speech which is historically a satirical address. That year his talk was so funny that he upstaged Dick Cavett, who spoke after him and got so miffed, he wouldn’t speak to Metaxas for nearly 20 years!
Metaxas also has written several children’s books; was a writer for “Veggie Tales” and worked for 2 years on Chuck Colson’s show, “Breakpoint”. He has appeared on TV alot; a cultural commentator on CNN, Fox and NPR and a host of other writings etc.
He mentions in his acknowledgments that he is the son and grandson of Germans and his grandfather died during the war.
More than you wanted to know but interesting! He takes an important scholarly subject like Bonhoeffer and presents his life in such a way that it reads like a novel and injects it with humor and stories that keep people like me reading way into the night!
Come get it!
7 Rich in law // Sep 2, 2010 at 10:07 am
Great info, Norm. I do want to/need to read that.
8 Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand // Jun 2, 2011 at 3:22 pm
[...] to suggest two other “over the top” nonfiction reads, Eric Metaxas’ Bonhoeffer (see Norma’s blogs) and John Valliant’s The Tiger. You really should read these [...]
9 The Death of the Adversary by Hans Keilson // Jun 2, 2011 at 3:22 pm
[...] more about Bonhoeffer here and The Invisible Bridge [...]
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