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A review by farmfreshlisa
In a Far-Off Land by Stephanie Landsem
4.0
Cover grabbed me, because it is simply gorgeous! This is a new to me author so I had NO idea what to expect. And let me tell you, I didn't expect this! by the 3rd chapter I had to make sure this was indeed a Christian fiction genre because I was feel like I'd sunk into Hollywood depravity. No, I don't mean there was like "Rated R", but it was implied. Promiscuity, prostitution, infidelity, excessive drinking, smoking, sleeping with a married man, theft, etc. So I was struggling to wrap my head around the book--but then Chapter 11 and *BAM* I get all emotional when I realize that this is a book simply exploring an oh so famous parable--The clue should have been the title "In a Far Off Land" which comes from the scripture Luke 15:13:
And suddenly it all made sense.
There are reviews of the book that criticize the author for not "weaving a thread of faith" through the book. But it was there. It was there every time it went back to Minnie's father. And what more do you need to understand the power of mercy than the parable of the prodigal son? The Bible didn't tell us all the things that happened to the prodigal son---to get him from point A to B. But we know his repentance from the way he responds to his father in the scripture. And this book fulfills that emotional arch to a T. Even down to the dialogue between sisters and their father at the end. This was a brilliantly done exploration into the age-old story retold in a new setting with females instead of men.
Now--I will add that BECAUSE this deals with more mature themes (ie. depraved Hollywood of the 1930s, plus the racism against Hispanics in CA (which was VERY MUCH real during that time period)--I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who isn't ready for that type of topic. It's going to feel at times at the level of Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers in the rawness.
I happily give this one 4.5 stars!
And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country...
And suddenly it all made sense.
There are reviews of the book that criticize the author for not "weaving a thread of faith" through the book. But it was there. It was there every time it went back to Minnie's father. And what more do you need to understand the power of mercy than the parable of the prodigal son? The Bible didn't tell us all the things that happened to the prodigal son---to get him from point A to B. But we know his repentance from the way he responds to his father in the scripture. And this book fulfills that emotional arch to a T. Even down to the dialogue between sisters and their father at the end. This was a brilliantly done exploration into the age-old story retold in a new setting with females instead of men.
Now--I will add that BECAUSE this deals with more mature themes (ie. depraved Hollywood of the 1930s, plus the racism against Hispanics in CA (which was VERY MUCH real during that time period)--I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who isn't ready for that type of topic. It's going to feel at times at the level of Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers in the rawness.
I happily give this one 4.5 stars!