There is something about this book. I am not sure if I like it or not, but I appreciate several things.  Author, Urs Mattmann has reworked his original 2004 German manuscript with a few updates for English speaking cultures.  I appreciate that he clearly states he is writing from a uniquely gay-male perspective.  That alone might give a clue to why I am not sure about “Coming In.”

There are definite moments of lack of awareness (ie, of female bodies when he mentions penis and testicles he equates that to the vagina which is wholly internal, rather than the vulva and clitoris).  He also clearly states he does not cover areas of understanding for transgender persons and only lightly suggests that bisexual persons may find something to inform them here based on their “choice” of partner.  This feels…. uninformed at best, exclusional at worst.  Of course, I read this book as a cisgender, heterosexual woman and recognize my unique lens disallows some understanding.  However, I also read it as one who identifies deeply with mystics and intentional spiritual living and appreciate the language which opens the journey to all of humanity.

There are great tools at the end of each chapter and in all honesty, they are what I will use the book for in the future.  Most of what Mattman says has been said more recently by new voices who are finally addressing Christian spirituality in new ways.  He admits that most spiritual writings for gay and lesbian persons are from the Christian perspective and it feels like he believes his may be different.  While he clearly focuses more on the spiritual journey than on dogma, nothing came as a surprise in his book.  10 years ago it may have been ground breaking.  Today, I think other voices are already and have been speaking this in English.

Maybe his translation is just a bit too late.  Maybe it is my cisgender female lens. I am still unsure whether I like it or not, but there is something about this book and it is worth the read because your experience may be quite different from mine- and that is the whole point.  Our spiritual journey is uniquely ours and that is one thing he makes abundantly clear.

So read it.  Straight, Gay, Transgender, Queer, Christian, Not, Spiritual, Not. There is something about this book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.