It Wasn't Roaring, It Was Weeping

Interpreting the Language of Our Fathers Without Repeating Their Stories

By: Lisa-Jo Baker

Narrated by: Lisa-Jo Baker

Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

An honest and lyrical coming-of-age memoir of growing up in South Africa at the height of apartheid, and an invitation to recognize and refuse to repeat the sins of our fathers—from the bestselling author of Never Unfriended

“Heartfelt, emotionally charged reflections . . . [a] bracing memoir.”—Kirkus Review

“Important. Riveting. Unforgettable . . . a profoundly captivating story that can profoundly change your own story.”—Ann Voskamp, New York Times bestselling author of WayMaker

Born White in the heart of Zululand during the racial apartheid, Lisa-Jo Baker longed to write a new future for her children—a longing that set her on a journey to understand where she fit into a story of violence and faith, history and race. Before marriage and motherhood, she came to the United States to study to become a human rights advocate. When she naïvely walked right into America’s own turbulent racial landscape, Baker experienced the kind of painful awakening that is both individual and universal, personal and social. Yet years would go by before she traced this American trauma back to her own South African past.

Baker was a teenager when her mother died of cancer, leaving her with her father. Though they shared a language of faith and justice, she often feared him, unaware that his fierce temper had deep roots in a family’s and a nation’s pain. Decades later, old wounds reopened when she found herself spiraling into a terrifying version of her father, screaming herself hoarse at her son. Only then did Baker realize that to go forward—to refuse to repeat the sins of our fathers—we must first go back.

With a story that stretches from South Africa’s outback to Washington, D.C., It Wasn’t Roaring, It Was Weeping is a courageous look at inherited hurts and prejudices, and a hope-filled example for all who feel lost in life or worried that they’re too off course to make the necessary corrections. Baker’s story shows that it’s never too late to be free.

©2024 Lisa-Jo Baker (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Using her father’s life as a point of departure, the South Africa-born author [Lisa-Jo Baker] offers heartfelt, emotionally charged reflections on their apartheid-riven homeland. . . . Throughout, Baker seeks to understand the many sins of both her homeland and her adopted land, and she makes a tender effort to forgive her father. . . . A painful, lyrical, and bracing memoir.”—Kirkus Review

“Important. Riveting. Unforgettable. . . . A profoundly captivating story that can profoundly change your own story.”—Ann Voskamp, New York Times bestselling author of One Thousand Gifts and WayMaker

“Achingly personal yet transcendently and triumphantly human, It Wasn’t Roaring, It Was Weeping is unputdownable.”—Karen Swallow Prior, PhD, author of The Evangelical Imagination

Incredible story

One of my favorite books to date. Lisa Jo Baker writes an incredible memoir documenting the heartbreaking and redeeming parts of her story.

A radical gift

Lisa Jo’s memoir is storytelling art. The way Lisa Jo time travels you into her story while, at the same time, also somehow transporting you back into your own story…I am amazed. This book is a vulnerable, raw, human and humble look at healing. I am so grateful to Lisa Jo for being brave enough to write it for all of us, for our healing . The audio production was incredible!!! I loved hearing Lis Jo’s accent and hearing her speak occasionally in her native tongue. It added such a deep richness to an already captivating memoir.

Beautiful story of maturity & forgiveness

LisaJo is such a great storyteller! You can taste, smell, and feel the homeland of her youth. You get the rawness of her encounters with her dad. You feel the rage and yet regret . The story of the cross means we don’t have to continue the burdens of our ancestors. As a woman who has had to apologize too many times to her own children for her temper, I felt it in my gut.

The healing of the soul

Most excellent book. I found myself encouraged and challenged in my own life to face my memories, my past with Grace.

Beautiful story of Redemption!

What a deeply painful and beautiful story from start to finish. Every word carefully chosen to help transport us there. Loved every minute! Didn’t want it to end!

Best book of the year!

I can’t imagine this story of hope not being the best book I will have read all year!

Stunning and precious

I loved this so much. It reminded me of my young self leaving Africa and coming to the US for school. The author is so amazing with words and descriptions. The way she articulated everything is helping me untangle my feelings about everything left behind and my life here now. Truly poignant.

Honesty

To tell the whole truth of how God changes us as individuals and families is not an easy task. Here it is told with a poet’s voice, a lawyer’s analysis, a sinner’s humility and with the hope of those who follow the way of Jesus. It is at once a prayer of lament and rejoicing. Lisa-Jo, thank you for telling your whole story of uncomfortable grace. Lovely.

Excellent Book!

I love Lisa-Jo’s literary style, and it was wonderful to listen to her tell the story in her own voice & languages. I’ve been thinking a lot about my relationship with my dad and how our relationship has been shaped over years and generations by his experiences and relationships with his parents, grandparents and other relatives. The history on apartheid and racism in South Africa was enlightening. Her words at the end about forgiveness and redemption were beautiful. She told her story with honesty AND grace. It’s a story that gives me hope.

Wow

Lisa Jo, thank you for sharing your beautiful life and the story of your family tree