Strangers at My Door

September 23, 2013
Wilson-Hartgrove (The New Monasticism) tells a story that deserves to be loved. He and his wife Leah founded Rutba House in Durham, N.C., a Christian community that over the years has opened its arms to the homeless, the addicted, the mentally ill, the needy, and those paroled from prison. From such experience and relationships, Wilson-Hartgrove has learned to view the world through the eyes of the downtrodden. Yet though his heart is in the right place, sometimes his writing falls short. Is it the occasional cliché ("smiling from ear to ear"), clumsy diction ("swinging words like I wanted to swing my fist") or a certain sameness to the people he describes despite their different stories? The heartfelt message-âthat the disadvantaged help Wilson-Hartgrove more than he helps themâbecomes at times repetitive. Towards the end, however, Wilson-Hartgrove writes compellingly of a white woman who wants a neighborhood watch in a place where relations with the police are fractured. Here his anger proves that he can write powerfully and well. Agent: Greg Daniel, Daniel Literary Group.

November 1, 2013

Wilson-Hartgrove (The Awakening of Hope), a leader in the New Monasticism movement, and his wife, Leah, are the founders of Rutba House, a Christian community in the Walltown neighborhood of Durham, NC. There, they practice radical hospitality, taking very seriously the words of Jesus in Matthew's gospel: "I was a stranger and you welcomed me." This volume is a collection of stories and reflections on this shared life. What sets this ministry apart is the way in which the Wilson-Hartgroves actively shun the typical imperialistic narrative of the privileged who give food, money, and religion to the needy from a safe and comfortable distance. Here, it works in reverse. As the author and his wife immerse themselves in the life of the neighborhood and participate in the joys and sufferings of its people, they believe that Jesus shows up in the midst of them, frequently in the form of the homeless, addicted, and imprisoned. Throughout, the book allows room for complexity as it touches on race, class, poverty, addiction, criminal justice, and the history of place. VERDICT This is an honest and beautifully messy example of real people living out their faith rather than simply talking about it. Recommended for readers seeking pathways toward more genuine spirituality.--Brian Sullivan, Alfred Univ. Lib., NY

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.