Cynthia
I've had this book on my shelf for over 2 years. As I was reading my devotionals this morning something told me, the Holy Spirt perhaps, to go get this book. I've been devouring it for about an hour now and love that I can feel the presence of Jesus in every word of it.
Fast forward to the end: I have to admit that I began to skim it over and skip sections. It started off as a journey with Jesus but then it became a journey with Charles Martin instead. I love Martin's fictional stories, he is a master storyteller, but this left me wanting to read the Bible instead...but I guess that's a good thing. :)
There are so many beautiful things about this story! The setting, Mendocino, is one of my all time favorite places. When I downloaded the book I didn't realize it was Christian fiction, but that is one of the things that made this story & the friendships so beautiful. It also softened the blow for me when a particular event popped up in the story that I did not see coming. I felt like I was surrounded by God & my fictional friends, Ellyn, Sabina, and Twila, and was eager to continue the story. I'm looking forward to reading the 2nd book. P.S. I would give this 5 stars, but didn't because even for this God loving gal, I found parts of it a little cheesy.
I was really looking forward to reading this book, I really liked Ng's other
two books. I may be in the minority giving this book a 2 star rating, but it was such a cumbersome read. I didn't find any of the characters interesting. Maybe the plot is over my head and I just couldn't appreciate it. I won't give anything away, but a very significant event in the story, the part that kept me reading, was so anticlimactic that I didn't even bother to finish the book.
Hmmm...It did keep me reading, but I still gave it a 2, I knew who did it WAY before the book told me. But, in case you don't know this already you will learn a few things. haha
1. Don't lie!
2. Don't cheat on your spouse.
3. You really don't know your neighbors and friends as much as you think you do.
4. Mom's want to protect their children more than anything, but I don't know any mom's this stupid!
5. You're going to get caught if you are this dumb.
6. If people are really this ignorant, then our human race will be wiped out soon.
Allen's books are whimsical and simply charming! Keep your imagination open to the possibility of the world being full of magic and miracles. Her creation of settings and characters make you want to move right on in with them. She creates families where there are none, makes misfits loveable, and make you wanting for more.
I have given all of her books a 5 star rating; but this one is a 4 because I wanted even more of her “magic” intertwined in the story and I wanted more to the ending. :)
I give it a 2 1/2. I liked the plot, the premise that bad things happen to good people, redeeming yourself after a horrible mistake is possible, and being a productive citizen after prison. BUT...the author would interrupt the story with having the narrator (mother) all of a sudden go off on an irrelevant memory, or unnecessarily steer away from the plot line. It took away from the main character's story. AND, the
ending came about way too abruptly.
A sweet story with delightful characters living in a lovely, small town. The quaint bookstore holds a mystery to be solved (I did have to reread parts to understand it better). I love how the author did not go into the detail of the characters' traumas, but instead focused on their emotions, healing, and forgiveness-all by God's grace, and in a beautiful way, not cheesy.
Update- I didn't finish it before the concert, and it took me longer than 40 days, but it was worth every moment. I enjoyed hearing the message behind each song that was written and the connections to their lives and God's word.
Beautifully written! My goal is to finish it by March 25 because I will be going to their concert for their Inhale-Exhale tour!!
