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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
My mom reccomend thix book to me, and I'm glad I read it. I really liked the whole story line. I read First Light by Terri Blackstock, I like the difference between them, where This Present Darkness was more related to the spiritual realm. Last Light was more on the realistic side. The beginning of the book made it a little hard to get into just because right off the bat you went straight into the plot, it just threw all of this information at you in the first couple of chapters. I would definitely reccomend his book if you like Revelations.
Love it like always. Always read it when I need a spiritual pick me up.
Absolutely stunning and thought provoking. Gives an incredibly clear image of the spiritual battle that is always around us, while orchestrating a clever plot that will keep you turning pages!
I was astonished to see that this book is so popular that it was recommended as a part of PBS's Great American Read. It is so so so bad. My roommate recommended this to me in my sophomore year of college. It still turns my stomach thinking about it 20 years later. Anything the slightest bit new-agey is rendered as completely Satanic. The most sympathetic non-Christian or progressive Christian characters are rendered as clueless imbeciles. Every inch of the story line is a predictable pandering to the most close-minded conservative Christians.
Well if ever a fiction book made you contemplate the power of prayer, this sure is it!
Yuck! This just reminds me of the days when I had to settle for mediocre Christian fiction.
So many mixed feelings. For a Christian book written in the eighties, there were many things I was impressed with. I also like that he was addressing and bringing to light the reality of spiritual warfare. It really made me think in ways even nonfiction books on the topic do not. However, there were many things that did make me cringe, ESPECIALLY the false rape accusations. Big trigger warning for sexual violence not being handled with care.
As a faith-based book, this one is decidedly unsubtle, particularly compared to Peretti's later works. I did enjoy the duality mix of human realm and spirit realm with the human conflict on one level and the angels vs. demons on another. I enjoyed the main characters, particularly that they are portrayed as flawed either for their families or by their nativity. The investigation into the conspiracy was the most compelling aspect of this story with some impressively intense scenes scattered throughout. The ending was somewhat predictable, but I did enjoy its execution.
All in all a solid, if slightly dated, story of good vs. evil.
All in all a solid, if slightly dated, story of good vs. evil.
dark
slow-paced
Well this reading year certainly went out with a whimper, huh.
I just don't think I have patience for the way Peretti writes women. It feels like there are so often pawns or idiots and while I know that can be the case in the real world, he also often tends to let the women be the unredeemed sinners as well and, I don't know and I'm not about to engage in a religious conversation in this but, my God is bigger than meditation and the movement that set about in the 80s to demonize meditation is very clear here. The Satanic Panic hit this book hard. I have a lot of other feelings but mainly I just want to be done with this book and its 'myriad' of issues. I will not be picking up the sequel.
I just don't think I have patience for the way Peretti writes women. It feels like there are so often pawns or idiots and while I know that can be the case in the real world, he also often tends to let the women be the unredeemed sinners as well and, I don't know and I'm not about to engage in a religious conversation in this but, my God is bigger than meditation and the movement that set about in the 80s to demonize meditation is very clear here. The Satanic Panic hit this book hard. I have a lot of other feelings but mainly I just want to be done with this book and its 'myriad' of issues. I will not be picking up the sequel.
This Present Darkness is a phenomenal read. With the exception of physical engagement, the theme of cosmical warfare is spot on and presented in a way that is (1) entertaining and (2) enlightening. I truly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading it again at some point.
The only drawback (in my estimation) of the storyline is the fanciful imagery of supernatural beings—namely, those of demonic forces. They are just not realistic but I guess that is what plays into the fictional aspect of the book.
Nevertheless, it is a book of its time and a great Christian thriller.
The only drawback (in my estimation) of the storyline is the fanciful imagery of supernatural beings—namely, those of demonic forces. They are just not realistic but I guess that is what plays into the fictional aspect of the book.
Nevertheless, it is a book of its time and a great Christian thriller.