MINI REVIEW: ROME SWEET HOME

Coming home to Rome...


After having such a great experience with my first Scott Hahn book, HOLY IS HIS NAME, my parents lent me a couple of his books from their collection to try. This is the first of the two that I dug into.  

HOW I RATED IT 
5/5 Scott Hahn's story of conversion to the Roman Catholic Church is one I've heard and seen referenced many times throughout my life, but I had no idea it would be so gripping to read through.

CONTENT
It might be wild to think about one of the most prolific Catholic writers and speakers of our time to have once been decidedly anti-Catholic, but that is the very origin story of Scott Hahn and his wife, Kimberly Hahn. This book is told in a narrative fashion from the perspectives of both Scott and Kimberly as they walk readers through their early teenage years, into college, and then into adulthood where they would eventually go through great turmoil in deciding to join the Roman Catholic Church. When I'd started this book, I had no idea that I would get sucked into their story as thoroughly as if I was reading a thriller novel, but that is exactly how I felt as I followed along with their personal journey. Although I was born and raised in a Catholic family, I found that it was easy to imagine myself in the same headspace as Scott and Kimberly (who shared similar, but distinct views on Catholicism) due to how well each of them explained their positions and gave concrete examples of what led to their lines of thinking. In just as much detail, both of them pour through what is described as the "horror story" in which Scott finds himself asking questions that his Protestant friends are unable to answer for him in a satisfying way. As with his other books, Hahn demonstrates a keen understanding of scripture and breaks down specific theological problems that led him closer and closer to where he would eventually end up. The way that it's all written made it feel like I was going through Scott's spiritual crisis with him and experiencing the anguish and betrayal that Kimberly felt when Scott eventually converted. This is a mystery book, a spiritual thriller, a love story, and a deep exploration of theology all packed into one. While I don't feel as though the main point of this book was specifically to entertain me, I did very much enjoy riding the highs and the lows of this couple's life and their relationship with both God and each other. While I imagine folks from other Christian denominations may not appreciate the conclusions that the Hahns land on in this book, I got quite a lot out of it as a "Cradle Catholic" and certainly gained a new appreciation for the faith that I grew up in through thinking about some of its mysteries of it in new ways and learning a couple of new things during the journey. 

PAPERBACK
The copy that I read from was printed quite a while ago and that definitely shows in a couple key areas, good and bad. The cover isn't the best, but I think it adequately conveys the key idea of what this book is about (I generally don't pick up religious texts for the cover anyway). The pages are on the thicker side which is always nice since I feel like modern publishing sometimes skimps on paper quality. There are also lots of nice black and white photographs of the Hahns and their families sprinkled in, sometimes capturing moments from key events in their testimonies. The interior formatting is comfortably laid out with nice fonts and spacing which made for easier reading. All in all, there's a charming sort of old-school feel to this edition of the book. I'd certainly recommend buying or borrowing it though I'm sure there are plenty of other versions of it on the market at this point as well. 

CONCLUSION
I think this is essential reading for every Catholic and probably anyone who is discerning joining the Church as well. It's emotionally gripping, scripturally rich, and personally inspiring. 

(+) An engaging narrative format split between Scott and Kimberly's perspectives  
(+) Loads of theological discourse that's grounded in scripture
(+) A thorough analysis of what the Catholic Church is and isn't
(+) Inspiring calls to action for Catholics who've been raised in the faith and may have taken it for granted or never fully understood it to begin with
(+) A charming paperback copy brimming with lovely details

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