A curious faith The questions God asks, we ask, and we wish someone would ask us

Blogger Wilbert (Handle with Care) offers rambling reflections on how she's reconciled doubts about Christianity. "Asking questions is a part of the Christian life," she contends, and to that end she uses personal anecdotes and biblical exegesis to illustrate how she's wrestled with such queries as "Why was I born?" "How long, Lord?" and "Why have you forsaken me?" She recounts how she struggled to find a partner while watching her friends get married, and asked God, "Where are you?" before she accepted that God will deliver, but not on the timeline or in the way that one expects. The author wonders how to get right with God and wishes there were something she could do to feel like a better Christian, but she concludes that "nothing can make us right with God" because Jesus's sacrifice has already done so. Though some moments inspire ("Despite all the good in the world happening every day... there's still something deeper to be done, to be healed, to be made whole"), vague and wordy prose hamper their impact: "A more local life is a life in which we can protect ourselves from the hype if we'll submit to it." Meandering and muddled, this comes up short. Agent: John Blase, Bindery Agency. (Aug.)

This book is based on the premise that asking questions is an act of faith and that the Christian scriptures and God himself invites questions. The book is divided into three sections: "Questions God Asks," "Questions We Ask," and "Questions We Wish Someone Would Ask Us." In each section, Wilbert examines questions asked in the Bible. By taking the questions directly from scripture, she underscores the investigative and contemplative nature of Christianity by rooting it in the history of the faith. Each chapter reflects on just one question and Wilbert's reflections strike the perfect balance between personal reflection and broad application. Her tone throughout the book is friendly and engaging, which makes reading the book feel like a conversation with a good friend. Chapters are kept relatively short, but the content of the chapters is meaningful enough to reflect on all day long, making this an excellent choice for an addition to personal meditation time. VERDICT This book is best suited to public libraries with audiences looking for religious devotional materials or religious libraries.--Sarah Mazur