Title: Loving Soren

Author: Caroline Coleman O’Neill

Publisher: Broadman & Holman

ISBN: 0-8054-3089-X

Genre: Inspirational/Historical/Fiction

Regina Olsen has been in love with Fritz Schlegel for as long as she can remember. They met when Regina was a student and Fritz a teacher, and as soon as Regina graduates he starts courting her. Regina knows that someday, she and Fritz will marry.

She doesn’t count on Fritz’s friend, Soren Kierkegaard trying to woo her away from Fritz. Soren is brilliant, but suffers from spells of acute depression. He has become infatuated with Regina and almost stalks her, appearing everywhere she goes. Even Fritz can’t visit without Soren tagging along. It doesn’t take long for Regina to start falling in love with Soren. But she still loves Fritz. Is it possible for Regina to love two men? Which one will she choose?

Loving Soren is an interesting book. Soren is a strange sort of person, really odd acting in public. Only in Regina’s company does he even begin to act normal. I felt that his behavior was scary and almost extreme. Regina’s father, a man haunted by acute depression himself, loves Soren. Fritz on the other hand, is faithful and loving, a type man I’d be proud to call a friend.

Based on a true story, Loving Soren has bits and pieces of both Soren’s and Regina’s journals posted at the beginning of each chapter. It was interesting reading. I was a bit disappointed about some things being skipped over; it seemed that one minute Regina was a young lady and the next a middle aged, married woman, and it happened with no warning. I would have liked to have seen more information about that part, without just turning a page and wham, fifteen years have passed. Parts of the story are rather gross and should not be read while eating or if you have a weak stomach. $14.99. 294 pages.