This Is Why I Came

After a 30-year absence, a nameless woman visits her local church in hopes of receiving the sacrament of confession. As she waits her turn, she fingers a small, handmade book, which contains the woman’s own interpretations of Biblical tales, written in the form of fables. From here, Rakow (The Memory Room) brilliantly swerves, leaving the nameless woman behind and immersing the reader in the character’s handmade book: we see its table of contents, and then we read its stories, starting with tales of Adam and ending with the final days of Mary and Joseph after the death of Jesus. In these narratives, God fears his creations, and Joseph lives with the concern that Mary is less than honest when proclaiming her virginal pregnancy. Also tackled is the disappointment some feel when touched by their savior. After struggling with his faith, Jonah turns his back on God, and a blind man—after Jesus restores his sight—wonders if life was better when he could not see. A sense of compassion radiates from every character, and while familiarity with the Bible certainly deepens the appreciation of the book, these fabulous narratives shed light on their nameless author’s own relationship with God and illuminate religious tales ingrained in so many readers’ minds. (Dec.)