As an avid film enthusiast, I approached "A Whole Life in Twelve Movies" wondering how just twelve films could encapsulate the human experience. What unfolds is an intimate conversation about cinema's power to illuminate life's journey.

Norris and Higgins have crafted something special - a book that reads like eavesdropping on a fascinating dialogue between two deeply thoughtful viewers. Their analysis of films like "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Babette's Feast" transcends mere critique, using these works as launching points for deeper contemplation about existence, spirituality, and human connection. The authors' different perspectives - Norris's American poetic sensibility and Higgins's Irish storytelling background - create a rich interplay of ideas that enriches their observations.

What particularly struck me was how the book manages to be deeply spiritual without becoming preachy. Both authors bring their religious perspectives to bear on these films, but in a way that invites rather than insists. Their discussions had me immediately adding several films to my must-watch list, including "Malcolm X," "Paterson," and "After Life."

The inclusion of discussion questions and additional film recommendations transforms this from a simple film guide into a practical tool for group exploration and personal reflection. This book serves as both a thoughtful film guide and a spiritual companion, perfect for anyone interested in exploring how movies can deepen our understanding of life's big questions.

A big thank you to Brazos Press and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Whole Life in Twelve Movies by Kathleen Norris and Gareth Higgins is a well written, and organized, discussion of twelve films that relate to different aspects or stages of human life. These films have been produced over a wide period of time, and some are more obscure than others. After each of the authors discusses the selected movie in each category, categories such as “waiting to be born,” “childhood,” “community,” or “the breaking and remaking of self,” they provide a list of questions for readers to use for self reflection after they experience the film (or even after reading the preceding discussion).

While I believe I have only seen four of the primary films discussed, I want to see those again and find the others, several of which I had never heard about prior to this book. Each chapter also uses other movies as comparison or examples in the discussion. There is also a list of films related to each chapter provided at the end of the book. I found this book thought provoking and thoughtful and plan to try to locate several of these films. This book could be used as a springboard for discussion among friends or groups. Recommended.

Thanks to Brazos Press and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

If you are a cinéaste who loves to explore spiritual elements in films, this book is for you. Beautifully written and organized, the book led me at first to just skim the list of films included, then dig deeper to find the spiritual treasures in movies I've seen and now must-watch. A must-have for every lover of the cinema!

To begin with, as a longtime fan of Kathleen Norris, I’m always excited to read any new book she writes. And I’m a recent Gareth Higgins fan, following his work on The Porch. So seeing them collaborate on this new project, A WHOLE LIFE IN TWELVE MOVIES: A CINEMATIC JOURNEY TO A DEEPER SPIRITUALITY was exciting from the start.

The format of the book is to identify twelve phases of human growth and development and discuss each phase by pairing it with a movie. Then each author interprets the movie, based on what they see on the screen and their own personal experiences. In addition to these probing essays, there are questions for discussion at the end of each chapter and suggestions for further movie viewing on the specific topic.

This is a good book when read straight through; an outstanding book if paired with actually watching the movies.


With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Brazos Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

A wonderful book for the spiritual seeker and cinaphile alike, I highly recommend this book. It's a mix of movies you've likely seen and ones you've likely not, which makes it a satisfying journey through old and new experiences. You're sure to find something that resonates with, challenges, or enriches your spiritual life in these pages.

Have you ever left a great movie and just wanted to talk about it, what it meant to you, how it made you feel, what the other person felt? A Whole Life in Twelve Movies by Kathleen Norris and Gareth Higgins does a marvelous job of shining a light on how movies can reflect a part of our lives and inspire us to go deeper. The book highlights 12 movies that have been meaningful to the authors and they challenge you to go deeper.

The format of the book is great as a read-alone book but also has tremendous application for friends who like movies and enjoy sharing too. I may well encourage my small faith community to make this our next focus!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Norris and Higgins has done a beautifully connection between movies and journey to deeper spirituality. This is a hard work to do but they made it. I hope that all of you can get blessings from reading this book.

A Whole Life in Twelve Movies is built on a curious and amazing concept, and the structure of the book ensured an engaging read.

Kathleen and Gareth discuss the respective film and topic (an important pillar of life for each chapter) and leave us with questions to answer.

Nice selection of themes, films and tender discussions.