Book Review – Image and Likeness

Image and Likeness: Literary Reflections on the Theology of the Body is a collection of short stories with a theme involving the Theology of the Body.

If St. John Paul II ever summarized his Theology of the Body, it may have been when he said, “Man cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself.” But how does this sincere gift look when lived out by human beings with all their failings? What happens to our humanity when we withhold that sincere gift? What does life require of us when we give most deeply?

I have mixed feelings about this collection of stories. Mainly because I have mixed feelings regarding message fiction.

Still I found myself involved in most of the stories and the thematic tellings isn’t blunt instrument message fiction. It mostly succeeds in telling stories about people and their difficulties that feel pretty true-to-life. Since these are all ToB related they of course involve the sexual sphere and the consequences involved.

Most of the stories are cautionary tales that try to provide insight into the characters situations and the natural consequences. So mostly I enjoyed the stories, but it is pretty hard to get theological nuance without exposition. Although surprisingly one of the stories which is Science Fiction was rather good in that regard.

I struggle to think exactly what the audience for this book is. As just a collection of thematic short stories, it works to some extent. As a teaching tool it better succeeds into opening up a ToB viewpoint in a relaxed way.