St. Therese of Lisieux: A Transformation in Christ

Rating:
Summary: Thomas Keating can do far better than this
Review: At his best, Thomas Keating is an inspired spiritual writer, whose work can lead one both to greater awareness of the divine life and much intellectual stimulation. None of his work is free of a tendency to stretch quotations from scripture to make a point, yet, in such works as The Mystery of Christ, the overall impact is powerful and thought-provoking.

With this said, A Transformation in Christ is highly disappointing. It actually references little in Thérèse's life and work, and seems very contrived - as if the idea for connecting the parables and Thérèse's spirituality was a fine one until the author put pen to paper. The parables are presented as if Father Keating were recording some random thoughts during a meditation, and do not include exegesis or in depth treatment.

One with Father Keating's ability should have produced far better than this, particularly considering that neither Thérèse nor Jesus leave one with a paltry amount of material with which to work.

Rating:
Summary: Surprise!: One of My Favorite Books by Thomas Keating
Review: I'm not a Christian, but I love to read about Christian mysticism. I was not a big fan of St. Therese, either. I read a few books about her but, try as I might, I could not connect to her. This simple, brief book has changed my perception of St. Therese. She is less annoying to me (sorry!) and much more accessible. It also explains Jesus' parables in a deeply satisfying way for this non-religious armchair mystic.

I highly recommend this book provided you have no preconceived notions or expectations of it. It may surprise you.