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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
I received an ARC of this audiobook through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
Tim is a Christian author who is feeling like a hypocrite these days. After three deaths of people close to him in the last 3 years, he is struggling with his grief and questioning how God could be good when he allowed his daughter, mother, and friend to die. Tim goes to a Christian retreat to deal with his grief. While there, he has a dream, a beautiful vision of Heaven. He sees his loved ones who have passed on and gets to visit his own room of marvels.
The author used his own real grief to write this work of fiction. The story is a good reminder of how small acts of kindness can impact others' lives, and for Christians, it is a reminder that their Christian loved ones are in a better place now, even though we miss them. This book reminds me of The Five People You Meet In Heaven and some of It's A Wonderful Life. If you like those, you will probably like this book, too. Above all, I would recommend it to Christians who are grieving the lost of Christian loved ones.
Tim is a Christian author who is feeling like a hypocrite these days. After three deaths of people close to him in the last 3 years, he is struggling with his grief and questioning how God could be good when he allowed his daughter, mother, and friend to die. Tim goes to a Christian retreat to deal with his grief. While there, he has a dream, a beautiful vision of Heaven. He sees his loved ones who have passed on and gets to visit his own room of marvels.
The author used his own real grief to write this work of fiction. The story is a good reminder of how small acts of kindness can impact others' lives, and for Christians, it is a reminder that their Christian loved ones are in a better place now, even though we miss them. This book reminds me of The Five People You Meet In Heaven and some of It's A Wonderful Life. If you like those, you will probably like this book, too. Above all, I would recommend it to Christians who are grieving the lost of Christian loved ones.
Maybe I'm just not in the right head space for this book? Maybe I just really don't enjoy quest novels? Maybe I'm used to a higher quality of writing? Whatever the case, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had wanted to. Though the scene where he meets his daughter did make me tear up.
This is the second time I have read this book and it's still a great perspective of what heaven may be someday! It's also a call to examine our own relationship with God and how we trust in His love...even in the pain of grief.
I'm afraid I gave away my copy of this book, and now I wish I still had it. Sigh.
Short review: This is a short novel about coming to terms with death and loss. The main character, an author, has had his best friend (and neighbor), his daughter and mother all die in a short period of time. He is mad at God and spiritually dead himself. He goes away on a retreat to re-discover his love for God.
It is hard not to compare this with the Shack. Although this was written 3 years earlier and it is focused on the joy of seeing people in heaven and the higher purposes of God, not on actually meeting personifications of God. This is a more traditional way of looking at pain of death than the Shack was. I liked the Shack, but those that did not would have little to complain about theologically.
Death and loss are very personal. What people need for healing is also personal. I think this is a good book to read when you are not in pain, so that you can think about it clearly.
My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/marvels/
Right now it is $0.99 on kindle
It is hard not to compare this with the Shack. Although this was written 3 years earlier and it is focused on the joy of seeing people in heaven and the higher purposes of God, not on actually meeting personifications of God. This is a more traditional way of looking at pain of death than the Shack was. I liked the Shack, but those that did not would have little to complain about theologically.
Death and loss are very personal. What people need for healing is also personal. I think this is a good book to read when you are not in pain, so that you can think about it clearly.
My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/marvels/
Right now it is $0.99 on kindle
“I could now see clearly how heaven changes everything we suffer in this life.”
I find books like this difficult to review, because when it comes to spiritual truth, what is black and white to me (based on Scripture) may not be so to someone else. With that said, it is important to note that this is a work of fiction, not a memoir, although the author does say it is partly based on his own experience. But remembering that it is fiction helps me not get completely caught up in what I may not agree with theologically.
First, what I liked: This book is honest about grief and its relationship with faith. I think this aspect could be very comforting for someone walking through a season of grief. Secondly, the theme of hope and how the reality of Heaven brings hope was beautiful. Third, I liked the idea of the room of marvels, but it would be a spoiler to explain what the room actually contains.
My biggest concern with this book on a theological level was on the issue of forgiveness. The characters not only discuss forgiving of self, but forgiving God. I do not find that to be at all faithful to Scripture. There are other parts that I would not completely agree with, but again, in a work of fiction there can be some creative license.
This book just wasn’t for me. However, if you enjoyed The Shack or even It’s a Wonderful Life, you may find some similar themes here.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
I find books like this difficult to review, because when it comes to spiritual truth, what is black and white to me (based on Scripture) may not be so to someone else. With that said, it is important to note that this is a work of fiction, not a memoir, although the author does say it is partly based on his own experience. But remembering that it is fiction helps me not get completely caught up in what I may not agree with theologically.
First, what I liked: This book is honest about grief and its relationship with faith. I think this aspect could be very comforting for someone walking through a season of grief. Secondly, the theme of hope and how the reality of Heaven brings hope was beautiful. Third, I liked the idea of the room of marvels, but it would be a spoiler to explain what the room actually contains.
My biggest concern with this book on a theological level was on the issue of forgiveness. The characters not only discuss forgiving of self, but forgiving God. I do not find that to be at all faithful to Scripture. There are other parts that I would not completely agree with, but again, in a work of fiction there can be some creative license.
This book just wasn’t for me. However, if you enjoyed The Shack or even It’s a Wonderful Life, you may find some similar themes here.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.
I don't know that I agree with all of the theology presented in this book. However, I did find several truths to ponder and definitely related with some of the grief struggles and questions throughout the book.