“I want to be the kind of person that is needed at the end of the world. If we’re headed into (even more) turbulent times I want to be someone who is of use, not overwhelmed and panicking but steady and hopeful, able to contribute to weaving a canopy of trust under which other people can shelter.” “ I know I am not that kind of person yet. I am probably not going to grow that kind of character accidentally.”.

The two above quotes come from the start of the book but resonated quite deeply. This is a book to savour, not consumed like a fast food burger, gulped down on the move. It is so much more. It is like a fine dining experience. There is much more to life than whizzing through at the speed of light without taking time to experience anything. I firmly believe that we all need to carry on learning and growing as we move through life. It is so much more than the constant refrain of “me, me, me”. This is a book to be read and reread.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher of the e-ARC. In Fully Alive, Elizabeth Oldfield writes of the mystery of life and faith with stunning clarity and wit. She writes with great humility and intellect - it was inspiring for a christian like myself but I find myself convinced it will be captivating to believer, agnostic and atheist alike.