Joni & Ken: An Untold Love Story, by Ken & Joni Eareckson Tada

I saw a few people review this title but I didn't read their reviews. (I have linked to them below.) I knew I wanted to read this one for myself before collecting the thoughts of others. Before anyone else wrote anything about it, I ordered a copy of Joni & Ken: An Untold Love Story from Amazon.

Just like so many of you, I read Joni's story of how she came to be paralyzed from the neck down and how God grew her in the faith through this perceived tragedy. I read her first book, Joni, as well as her second, A Step Further. Several years ago I read The God I Love (linked to my thoughts) which is her memoir. I noted in my reflections on the book that I had wanted to learn more about her relationship with her husband, Ken. Wish granted with this new title, Joni & Ken.

Sometimes we make wishes and when they are granted we realize that we're a bit unwise in asking for certain things. Turns out I really didn't want to know about their marriage like I thought I did. Not that it was a bad book, because it was not. Although I did believe it was lacking in some areas (in terms of writing style) it was very revealing of who Ken and Joni really are as a married couple. I guess I can only say that I was a bit surprised to learn about how they really interact with one another, although I shouldn't be. The purpose of this book is to encourage couples who are struggling in their marriage to realize that God can take any broken relationship and heal it. Great, right? I think my entire problem with this book is that I was expecting them to tell us the story of how supportive they are and have always been towards one another and how their unique circumstance and lives makes them a shining example of What Christian Couples Should Aspire To in marriage. Instead I found a story of struggle, hardship and weariness. You could also throw in some doubt and confusion. And while there is triumph in the end, they've walked a long, hard road with one another.

I'm not paralyzed and neither is Jonathan. And some days we're snippy with one another. Sometimes I can't snap out of a bad mood as fast as everyone would really like me to. Sometimes the children are really loud and demanding and interrupt our conversations with one another. Our house gets really messy to the point where I am unable to think. When Jonathan's alarm goes off in the morning, it wakes me up also. (I hate that.) I change plans on Jonathan all the time without warning. (He hates that.) We annoy each other even though we love one another. Turns out Joni and Ken follow much the same pattern of annoyance and love and devotion and irritation. They are just as committed to one another as Jonathan and I are, but they struggle to stay connected to each other when life becomes really busy (and their lives are rather busy). The book basically says this: marriage is work. Submit it to the Lord. He is faithful to help keep you two together and healthy, despite yourselves.

That's a very nice message, isn't it? I like it. No objections. But I wasn't terribly inspired by this wonderful, lofty idea of Who They Are. (Are you laughing at me yet?) Joni is inconsiderate. Ken is self absorbed. She understands his need to be alone sometimes. He understands she isn't trying to be physically demanding but she has a very physically demanding condition which requires a lot of attention. And so and so forth. Reading this book is, in one sense, reading a litany of things one should not do in order to have a successful marriage. And yet -

In this book, Joni and Ken reveal their struggles and their hardships and how several years went by when they just did not connect to one another at all. They reflect on their courtship and the wonder of marriage but then "real life" starts for the both of them and as every marriage couple knows (and laughs into their sleeve about) every day is not a romantic holiday. Clothes get dirty. Food needs to be eaten. This happens every day and logistics and emotions and just practical everyday living can wear on a couple no matter who you are. They write to share who they are really are as people and to show how God began to work on them through a variety of circumstances to realize just how desperately they were both in need of God's help to live out a successful marriage. And truly, I suppose it could be said that if they can make it 30+ years in a marriage, anyone could. Anyone, that is, who commits their way unto the Lord and is humble enough to be corrected when correction is needed. (And, as all those same married couples who snickered into their sleeve well know, being corrected and changed is a part of married life!)

Honestly, this book is not going on my "favorites" list. Although I was desperately curious to read it, I quickly became bored with it and I think that's more because of how the story was laid out than anything else. Their story begins in early 1980 and continues to the present. All throughout the book their fellow writer (Larry Libby) would hop back and forth between the present and the past weaving their story together for us. Although his manner was not confusing, per se, it did feel rather disjointed. The message which I have stated I believe this book to be trying to communicate is not remarkably easy for the reader to pick out. The thoughts are very jumbled and although this book ends on a note of encouragement, the reader is frequently left in a state of confusion as to where the book is headed. Sometimes random facts about either of the key parties are thrown in and I'm not sure why certain details about their persons and their families were thrown in. It's just not a smooth storytelling experience and that left me feeling a bit "meh" about the book on the whole.

I do think the Tadas have an incredible story to share and I'm not at all sorry for them having taken the time to share it. I believe that their story has the potential to be encouraging to struggling couples in very valuable ways. For me personally it just felt like I was hearing about a couple very much like Jonathan and myself - always moving forward with every good intention to be obedient to the Lord and honoring to one another - but sometimes failing in the attempt. And yet I still believe that despite our failures, God is working a good thing in us and there is more, still, to learn.

Not a remarkable book, but not too terribly disappointing all the same. Curiosity satisfied, I guess?

Additional reviews:

Barbara H. at Stray Thoughts 
Mark at Carstairs Considers . . .