Here, Now: Unearthing Peace and Presence in an Overconnected World by Kate Merrick
4 stars
“We are here, now.”
Kate Merrick’s story picks up with her family leaving their small California surfing town for Israel to find a curable treatment for her daughter, Daisy’s cancer. Here, Now looks at the family’s time in Israel becoming completely unplugged from media and learning to connect to those around them as well as God. This novel offers the challenging question of what does it mean for us to become unplugged and find peace and the presence of God in a world that encourages you to be connected superficially but not genuinely connected to those in your present life. This novel has some incredibly touching moments especially the moments about Daisy and her son as well as Phi, their daughter who God gave them a year after Daisy’s passing. I loved the family aspect of this novel. It was sweet and it was interesting to follow a family’s experience in Israel and connecting to the people. I loved the conversations about the Sabbath (which is important) and her commentary on Mary of Bethany (who has become one of my favorite women of the Bible in this season of my life). This novel really dives into how Mary of Bethany choose to bask in the presence of Jesus in contrast to her sister Martha who chooses to clamor about the house and worry over worldly expectations. Merrick tackles this scripture beautifully and I loved its inclusion to the central idea that being unplugged is a good thing and can help us put being present with God over having a presence on the Internet. I wasn’t always the biggest fan of Merrick’s writing. Often times I found myself getting pulled out and at times I loved how she chose to wove words together. I think the thing I noticed was that there is a tendency for two types of prose in her style overly polished and completely chaotic (which is on par with valley girl writing). Neither of these are bad styles, but I wish that there was a more cohesive flow. This book didn’t always blow me away but it did inspire to lay off of Facebook and Instagram during finals week at the beginning of May and I was much more present in the world with my friends and had more intimate time with God. I do recommend this one and I think many people will be challenge and convicted by its themes on rest, partaking in the Sabbath, trusting in the beauty of God through the decay of the world, and checking baggage and ourselves. This novel offers some important commentary on a world that is too obsessed with being plugged in by an author who has no problem unplugging completely.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 3.75
Plotastic Scale: 4.25
Cover Thoughts: I love and adore this cover. The striking yellow cursive with the white background. It’s beautiful.
Thank you, Netgalley and Thomas Nelson, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
4 stars
“We are here, now.”
Kate Merrick’s story picks up with her family leaving their small California surfing town for Israel to find a curable treatment for her daughter, Daisy’s cancer. Here, Now looks at the family’s time in Israel becoming completely unplugged from media and learning to connect to those around them as well as God. This novel offers the challenging question of what does it mean for us to become unplugged and find peace and the presence of God in a world that encourages you to be connected superficially but not genuinely connected to those in your present life. This novel has some incredibly touching moments especially the moments about Daisy and her son as well as Phi, their daughter who God gave them a year after Daisy’s passing. I loved the family aspect of this novel. It was sweet and it was interesting to follow a family’s experience in Israel and connecting to the people. I loved the conversations about the Sabbath (which is important) and her commentary on Mary of Bethany (who has become one of my favorite women of the Bible in this season of my life). This novel really dives into how Mary of Bethany choose to bask in the presence of Jesus in contrast to her sister Martha who chooses to clamor about the house and worry over worldly expectations. Merrick tackles this scripture beautifully and I loved its inclusion to the central idea that being unplugged is a good thing and can help us put being present with God over having a presence on the Internet. I wasn’t always the biggest fan of Merrick’s writing. Often times I found myself getting pulled out and at times I loved how she chose to wove words together. I think the thing I noticed was that there is a tendency for two types of prose in her style overly polished and completely chaotic (which is on par with valley girl writing). Neither of these are bad styles, but I wish that there was a more cohesive flow. This book didn’t always blow me away but it did inspire to lay off of Facebook and Instagram during finals week at the beginning of May and I was much more present in the world with my friends and had more intimate time with God. I do recommend this one and I think many people will be challenge and convicted by its themes on rest, partaking in the Sabbath, trusting in the beauty of God through the decay of the world, and checking baggage and ourselves. This novel offers some important commentary on a world that is too obsessed with being plugged in by an author who has no problem unplugging completely.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 3.75
Plotastic Scale: 4.25
Cover Thoughts: I love and adore this cover. The striking yellow cursive with the white background. It’s beautiful.
Thank you, Netgalley and Thomas Nelson, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Have you ever taken a social media fast or break? Do you like to stay plugged in or be unplugged? Let me know down below in the comments!
