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lottie1803's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
dir001's review against another edition
informative
reflective
4.0
Lyz Lenz's God Land is a pointed look at faith, politics, and the meaning of middle America in the chaotic fallout of the 2016 election. Using her lifelong residency in the heartland, Lenz weaves her personal narrative into a broader study of belief's shifting dynamics within a community. Her insights are not only intelligent but also profoundly relatable, capturing the challenges many confront in an increasingly divided atmosphere, making you feel understood and connected. Lenz has combined memoir and journalism to create a multi-layered story speaking to many levels. Ultimately, God Land gives an introspective look into how faith can be a means of division and means of unity, raising deep questions about the future of belief in America. The question it begets: Can we rise above our differences and find common ground? Thus, it makes for required reading for anyone interested in the relationship between faith, politics, and community.
bookwormmichelle's review against another edition
5.0
This was recommended to me and I am really glad, because it was a really interesting exploration of faith in the Midwest and what it feels like to try to belong in a faith community when you have the "wrong" body, wrong mindset, wrong everything. (this would be if you happen to be female, or nonwhite, or non cis-het. Or "liberal." Or too citified.) It's hard to try to live up to someone else's idea of what your faith should look like, and Lenz understands this through experience. Great book about her personal journey and also pretty affirming for those of us on similar ones.
lbmaddux's review against another edition
5.0
Because I follow Lenz on Twitter (and think she is hysterical), I grabbed this book from my library. I was expecting a sweet little memoir chronicling the destruction of her marriage after the 2016 election...at least, that is how I had heard it described. What I got was an investigation of organized religion and Faith in the post-2016 Midwest enhanced by personal stories (from her and others). I loved this book (I almost gave it 4 stars instead of 5. It was too short!!!).
A note: I am often frustrated when reading non-academic non-fiction by the lack of citations. In fact, there are two particular popular nf authors that I will not read because instead of citations they just use lists of "Further Reading" in the back. Lenz uses citations! Woohoo! Some of the resources she citied are now on my TBR list!
A note: I am often frustrated when reading non-academic non-fiction by the lack of citations. In fact, there are two particular popular nf authors that I will not read because instead of citations they just use lists of "Further Reading" in the back. Lenz uses citations! Woohoo! Some of the resources she citied are now on my TBR list!
michaelmc's review against another edition
4.0
Lyz Lenz tell her own story about embracing and then escaping from the Evangelical tradition. Born in Texas and raised mostly in South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa she has always lived in the middle of the United States. Her escape from Evangelicalism also required her to leave her marriage. Lenz is a journalist, her interviews on people in Midwestern churches made up a large part of this book. One person who like Lenz moved away from that expression of Christianity said "if the car breaks enough you trade it in" Lyz added "the car was breaking, I was ready to give up driving". Lyz Lenz left the Evangelical tradition that was repressing her but she did not leave her faith. She is now a Lutheran.
susanrae's review against another edition
5.0
This one hit close to home as someone raised a white christian in the midwest. It was interesting to hear a perspective from someone with similar upbringing and experience, but as an outsider of the midwest. It is a book I'd recommend this book to people who are still believers of God but are deconstructing from the patriarchal white Christianity because you see and feel how it conflicts with the teachings of Jesus. This author is brave to scrutinize the very community she lives in. She does a great job explaining what many are experiencing with their faith, their family, their communities, and their beliefs.
amestes83's review against another edition
5.0
I really loved this book. From a writerly perspective, it was really helpful for the book I'm currently at work on; from an emotional standpoint as someone who has left the church due to many of the issues raised, it was comforting and infuriating (in a good way -- I related). Lyz Lenz writes in a well-researched style that also has gut punches of beautiful phrases. I really enjoyed this book.
mystfi's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book. I learned a lot, I thought a lot. I will re-read this one - and gift it to others.
akovach's review against another edition
3.0
Lyz's perspective on the midwest and church culture was startlingly accurate. I've never read the history of the church in the midwest, rural cities and how politics comes into play. Some parts I could relate and others it seemed like she was ready to throw baby Jesus out with the church bathwater, if you will, due to her explanations of all the things about church that are hard to reconcile; leadership roles traditionally held by white men, non-diverse congregation, allegations of abuse covered up because of power, the need to follow a script in order to fit in, how the bible is sometimes taken out of context in order to push an agenda or idea. These things are wrong and do lead to hurt members leaving but there needs to be some hope in the purpose of church and why it continues, it's not because of people but because of God.