Once You Go In: A Memoir of Radical Faith by Carly Gelsinger
Published by She Writes Press on October 16, 2018
Genres: Memoir
Pages: 245
Format: Paperback
Goodreads
Carly Gelsinger is an awkward and lonely thirteen-year-old when she stumbles into Pine Canyon Assemblies of God, the cracked stucco church on the outskirts of her remote small town. She assimilates, despite her apprehensions, because she is desperate to belong. Soon, she is on fire for God. She speaks in tongues, slays demons, and follows her abusive pastor’s every word―and it’s not until her life is burnt to the ground that she finds the courage to leave.
Raw and illuminating, Once You Go In is a coming-of-age story about the beauty and danger of absolute faith, and the stories people tell themselves to avoid their deepest fears.
Every now and again, BookSparks has what they call a PopUp Blog Tour where they provide a book for bloggers to read and review. It’s a random tour that, well, pops up. When I saw this book popping up (sorry to keep using that phrase), I was curious but also concerned that I might not be able to feel comfortable reading this book being a Christian. Turns out, everything was just fine.
Once You Go In is actually a very well-written story about breaking the chains of a hostile church and finding your own truth.
We learn about young Carly Gelsinger from the time she steps into a church for the first time, to joining a radical Pentacostal church, Pine Canyon Assemblies of God Church, as a teenager. Carly shares how she starts to feel like she is finally accepted for who she is and the church helps her feel like she has purpose in life. Carly begins to feel God speaking to her and through her. Carly is pulled into the church and goes through so much there, all at the same time she is struggling depression and other mental health issues she didn’t even realize she had.
Over time, though, Carly loses the feelings of belonging and love, and instead feels “less than” or not good enough and attacked. She actually feels manipulated, and ultimately, Carly she finds the courage and strength to get out and leave the church.
I appreciated Carly sharing her own story in her own words. She didn’t “trash” the church particularly, she only spoke about how she felt in it and how she experienced things there and how it didn’t work in her life. I don’t write spoilers, but I will say that the ending to this book is honestly very redemptive and I am happy for Carly that she has a new and happy life with her family.
If you’d like to read an excerpt of the book first, be sure to click >>>>>>>>> HERE!
Carly Gelsinger grew up in the wild mountains and rivers of Northern California, barefooted and hair full of tangles. When she was six years old, she decided she would grow up to be a writer because of a story she wrote about her stuffed cow.
She holds a bachelor’s in psychology from William Jessup University and a master’s in journalism from Boston University. Her work has appeared in local, regional, and national publications.
She teaches writing and is a freelance editor in the Bay Area, where she lives with her husband and two spirited daughters. She also offers writing and editing services for authors, professionals, and businesses through Carly Gelsinger Creative Services.
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I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book from the publishers as part of a PopUp Blog Tour from BookSparks in exchange for this post. A positive review was not required.
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