Becoming Mrs. Lewis: The Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of gender discrimination.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Which aspects of Joy Davidman’s spiritual journey from atheism to Christianity resonated most strongly with you, and why?

2. If you’ve read them, how does Becoming Mrs. Lewis compare to Patti Callahan Henry’s other works about C. S. Lewis, such as Once Upon a Wardrobe? Do you share Callahan’s interest in Lewis? Why or why not?

3. Which of Joy’s many transformations throughout the novel affected you most as a reader?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Joy struggles to balance her writing career with domestic expectations. When have you experienced similar tensions between personal ambition and external expectations?

2. What creative outlets have helped you navigate challenging periods in your life?

3. Describe a relationship in your life that began intellectually but developed into something deeper, similar to Joy and Jack’s correspondence.

4. Is there a place that represents safety and belonging to you in the way that the Kilns came to represent home for Joy? What about it gives you that feeling of security?