I’ve been a fan of Lisa-Jo Baker and her writing since I found her blog about a million years ago (give or take a few). I’ve always been captivated by her storytelling and how her writing is accessible to anyone. Ever since her first book, I’ve wanted to know this story. The writing is stunning. Lisa-Jo has this way of explaining things where you feel like you’re there with her feeling the same things. This book is filled with unbelievably vulnerable accounts of her story and the stories of others and the grace that came in later years and really, all along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

A beautifully welk-written autobiographical study of growing up in South Africa. I have been follow the author's blog for years and loved this in depth look at family and faith.

A beautifully written memoir, the best I've read in a long time. Thank you, Lisa-Jo, for sharing this story with your readers.

Thank you, NetGalley and Convergent Books, for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It Wasn't Roaring, It Was Weeping
Interpreting the Language of Our Fathers Without Repeating Their Stories
by Lisa-Jo Baker
Pub Date 07 May 2024
Convergent Books
Biographies & Memoirs| Christian


Convergent Books and Netgalley gave me a copy of It Wasn't Roaring, It Was Weeping to review:





In the heart of Zululand during the apartheid era, Lisa-Jo Baker longs to write a new future for her children - a longing that sets her on a journey to understand where she belongs in a story of violence and faith, history and race. Prior to getting married and having kids, she came to the US to study human rights.
Having naively walked right into America's turbulent racial landscape, Baker experienced a painful awakening that is both personal and universal. Yet years would go by before she traced this American trauma back to her own South African past.Her American trauma wouldn't be traced back to her South African roots for years.





During her teenage years, Baker's mother died of cancer, leaving her with her dad. Although they shared a language of faith and justice, she often feared him, not realizing how deeply rooted his temper was in a family's and a nation's pain. Decades later, old wounds have reopened when she became a terrifying version of her father, screaming at her son until she was hoarse. Only then did Baker realize that to go forward—to refuse to repeat the sins of our fathers—we must first go back.Then Baker realized that if we want to go forward-to refuse to repeat the sins of our fathers-we must go back.



From South Africa's outback to Washington, D.C., It Wasn't Roaring, It Was Weeping is a brave look at inherited hurts and prejudices, and a hope-filled example for anyone feeling lost in life or worried they're too off track. A story like Baker's shows you it's never too late to change.


I give It Wasn't Roaring, It Was Weeping five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

This new book by Lisa-Jo is more of a memoir of her growing up in South Africa, losing her mother, and an abusive past with her father. She talks about how God healed her relationship with her dad and made him become a better father to her and her brothers. This book must have been really hard to write-think about all the emotions that Lisa Jo must have gone through. (She does throw up a lot)! This book was an eye opener for me and made me realize just how well I have it. I also enjoyed hearing stories about growing up in South Africa. I di enjoy her previous book because it was more self-help. but I realize this is supposed to be a different kind of book. Highly rec-I'm also sure it was therapeutic for her to write it!

This is a beautifully written memoir. The author grew up in South Africa and later moved to the United States so her memories encompass both countries. She wrestles with the sins of her father and the sins of her countries. I loved that she comes to a peace before she writes the book. She is not angry, but has found resolution in God. I don't always like memoirs because of how self focused they can be, but this one is not like that.
The writing style is really beautiful with excellent choices of language.
Worth reading.
Thank you to Net Galley and Convergent Books for my advance reader copy and the change to read this wonderful book.

Upon starting this book I only knew certain things about South Africa's past but this book brought me more into the heart breaking truth of the apartheid.

Honest and well written memoir about apartheid southbafreica which doesn’t hold anything back. Thanks for the arc

The title is so apt, I was left wearing many times while reading. As a person born and raised in Apartheid South Africa there were many stories that I lived through myself. Reading this has helped me to open my heart to forgiveness and is enabling me to move on. It's given me a different understanding of my parents, unfortunately they have died so I'm unable to hear their stories again.