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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
I was not a fan of Luke nor Shawn-- it was a disheartening how they behaved and I almost stopped reading. Taught a life lesson here and there- but most people have come across that by the time they read this book.
This is a beautiful told version of the Prodigal Son. I have know the story from the bible for as long as I could remember, but this is a version of the well know tale that will not quickly leave my heart.
Luke Crisp is the only son of a copy company magnet. He was brought up with the knowledge that one day he would take over the company from his father. When the time comes for the mantel to switch to his shoulders, Luke informs his father that he wants to see the world - live life to the fullest. Luke finds out that living life to the fullest is necessarily the way to true happiness.
What follows is the story of Luke's journey to the heights of pleasure and the depths of depression. It can't help but move you. "Often times the greatest peace comes from surrender" will ring truer than you can know.
This is an easy read, but well worth the effort.
Luke Crisp is the only son of a copy company magnet. He was brought up with the knowledge that one day he would take over the company from his father. When the time comes for the mantel to switch to his shoulders, Luke informs his father that he wants to see the world - live life to the fullest. Luke finds out that living life to the fullest is necessarily the way to true happiness.
What follows is the story of Luke's journey to the heights of pleasure and the depths of depression. It can't help but move you. "Often times the greatest peace comes from surrender" will ring truer than you can know.
This is an easy read, but well worth the effort.
For years I have looked forward to reading Richard Paul Evans’ latest novel. Unfortunately, this one was a little disappointing. It was oversaturated in melancholy for most of the book, and though it had a positive ending, it almost seemed like an afterthought rather than a satisfying, meaty, tying-up-loose-ends way to finish the book. This one tied up the loose ends in just a couple of pages, much like movies where there is a scrolling “here’s what happened to the characters” sort of way. I didn’t much care for it…I wish he had been written earlier parts a little more tightly, leaving him page space to write a more satisfying ending to the novel.
Nonetheless, I always look forward to the “journal” entries of his main characters for the pithy thoughts they have to offer, and this one did not disappoint in that respect. However, I want to focus my final comments on two in-text quotes.
1. At one point, Luke says “it’s one thing to be careless with money; it’s much worse to be careless with someone’s heart.” The older (and hopefully wiser) I become, the more I agree with this thought. As I business professor, I suppose I should be more hard-nosed than I am, but I find myself agreeing with the few who not only say, but act as if, their employees and co-workers are at least as important as their customers, shareholders, market share, and financial strength. Some companies, such as TD Industries, understand this principle of servant leadership quite well, and have been tremendously successful because of it.
2. At the end, Luke says “If it hadn’t been for the darkness, I never would have known the light.” Now this one I disagree with, at least as stated. I am convinced that one need not know darkness, or at least the darkness of disobedience and transgression, to know the light. We will always have opposition in our lives so that we can value the light, but it need not come through personal failings.
Nonetheless, I always look forward to the “journal” entries of his main characters for the pithy thoughts they have to offer, and this one did not disappoint in that respect. However, I want to focus my final comments on two in-text quotes.
1. At one point, Luke says “it’s one thing to be careless with money; it’s much worse to be careless with someone’s heart.” The older (and hopefully wiser) I become, the more I agree with this thought. As I business professor, I suppose I should be more hard-nosed than I am, but I find myself agreeing with the few who not only say, but act as if, their employees and co-workers are at least as important as their customers, shareholders, market share, and financial strength. Some companies, such as TD Industries, understand this principle of servant leadership quite well, and have been tremendously successful because of it.
2. At the end, Luke says “If it hadn’t been for the darkness, I never would have known the light.” Now this one I disagree with, at least as stated. I am convinced that one need not know darkness, or at least the darkness of disobedience and transgression, to know the light. We will always have opposition in our lives so that we can value the light, but it need not come through personal failings.
inspiring
fast-paced
A good Christmas story, and a modern day retelling of the parable of the prodigal son.
[062120]
Rereading this for father’s day. Haven’t even started yet, but I just know it will be worth reading the second time around ❄️
Rereading this for father’s day. Haven’t even started yet, but I just know it will be worth reading the second time around ❄️
An okay book that mirrors the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The first half of the book was pretty good, but then quickly slumped afterwards. It was really a typical Christian fiction book and used lots of Christian vocabulary that no one would use in real life to make it seem more Christianlike. The book also used a lot of stereotypes with the Latino family saying "Amigo" and many other "Spanish words" a lot.
A neighbor handed this to me and said, "Here, I still have a week left before it's due at the library. it's really good. read it." I was a bit hesitant, to say the least. I don't care for Christmas stories, which the covered made it appear to be. I don't like moralistic stories, where principles, generally Christian, are shoehorned into a story. This book seemed like it was destined to be lame. but I didn't want to hurt my neighbor's feelings, so I took the book.
and I am glad I did. For one thing, she wasn't kidding: this was an easy, fast read. I think I've read short stories that were this long. The story is printed in such a way that the book seems bigger than the story really is. The writing is easy to read, and the characters are interesting and realistic enough to be compelling. I'm not a fan of extremely detailed descriptions, usually. I feel like you need the bare minimum to communicate images, without bogging down the story. For the most part, the details in this story were't too heavy for it. reading about specific hotels in big cities might not have been interesting, but learning more about the life of homeless people in Vegas (that city is a plague on society, in my opinion.) was interesting, for sure, though.
I liked Luke throughout the book, even when he was being a scoundrel. His dad was nice, although a little too good to be true, maybe. Rachael grew on me. The retelling of the prodigal son parable was deft and believable, and reading a story that was Christian/ moral without being pushy or lame was quite pleasant. I enjoyed the ending, and am glad I read the book. I might not rush out and read everything the author wrote. I'm afraid that would give me cavities. But I wouldn't turn them down if, say, my neighbor handed them to me.
and I am glad I did. For one thing, she wasn't kidding: this was an easy, fast read. I think I've read short stories that were this long. The story is printed in such a way that the book seems bigger than the story really is. The writing is easy to read, and the characters are interesting and realistic enough to be compelling. I'm not a fan of extremely detailed descriptions, usually. I feel like you need the bare minimum to communicate images, without bogging down the story. For the most part, the details in this story were't too heavy for it. reading about specific hotels in big cities might not have been interesting, but learning more about the life of homeless people in Vegas (that city is a plague on society, in my opinion.) was interesting, for sure, though.
I liked Luke throughout the book, even when he was being a scoundrel. His dad was nice, although a little too good to be true, maybe. Rachael grew on me. The retelling of the prodigal son parable was deft and believable, and reading a story that was Christian/ moral without being pushy or lame was quite pleasant. I enjoyed the ending, and am glad I read the book. I might not rush out and read everything the author wrote. I'm afraid that would give me cavities. But I wouldn't turn them down if, say, my neighbor handed them to me.
Enjoyable...easy read...good for the Christmas season.