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Summary: What a symbolic piece...
Review: Despite controversial content, this should be taught in Senior Enlish classes (I mean, they gave us Tess of the d'Urbervilles).This was something I read without any precollection of plot or setting. Literally, behind on a book report project for my Junior English class, I grabbed three books to read. Two were absolutely dull...this one was marvelous. The language superb, the characters better. THE SYMBOLS! I blew that to kingdom-come in my report. The rugs and everything was so cool... This was a book that actually meant something to me. I'm glad I read it on the bounds that I wasn't forced to read it in class. Once I started to read it, it was really good. Although I found it hard to follow (aka, it sorta sped along during the pregnancy). If this isn't the greatest coming-of-age book ever, then I dunno what is. Cheers to this book! One of the best I've ever read! BTC
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Summary: Well Done
Review: I greatly enjoyed this novel. Despite the dreary setting and the incredible pain inflicted on the characters this novel is an accomplishment and is one of the better novels that Oprah has selected.
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Summary: A beautiful story of love, loss, and the spirit of a woman.
Review: As a young woman, I felt that this book was a stunningly accurate portrayal of a teenage girl's coming of age. Although the plot in no way mirrors my own life, the theme is universal. Sheri Reynolds brings her characters to life, and paints in vivid detail the emotions and conflicts of a girl struggling to find her place in society. Ninah's indomitable spirit and courage are inspiring, and Nanna's understanding and acceptance is something we should all strive to achieve. Reynold's writing style is so poetic and alive, I was captivated from the very first page.
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Summary: Excellent- Plan to spend the day with this book!
Review: I too could not put the book down. The control and blind belief seemed out of date but there are such groups alive and well today- read the papers! The dissident factions were well written and true to every organization- religion , whatever. The ending was real. This one satys with you, read it.
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Summary: Well written and haunting
Review: The writing was wonderful and the subject matter disturbing. I could not put this book down no matter how hard I tried.
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Summary: Grandma Rocks My World
Review: I read this book from cover to cover in one sitting and wanted more at the end. It really made me question religious movements and ponder when faith collides with reasoning. The characters of this book were well developed and the storyline was beautiful.
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Summary: Not worth the hype
Review: I was disappointed with the book. I never gained the perception that Ninah was undergoing a great spiritual awakening. The portrayal of this extreme fundamentalism was frightening.
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Summary: A book that has affected me and my thoughts on religion.
Review: I picked this book up unaware that I wouldn't be able to sleep or eat until I'd read the last word. No bed was made, no meal cooked... I just read. I found myself at three in the morning dapping my eyes as I struggled to read through lenses smeared with tears. I came to the conclusion that like love, religion should uplift us. It made me think of all the fire and brimstone churches I was raised in and I found every word and deed believable. The ending was one of the finest I can remember reading in years. The way Reynolds interwove the groups belief in the Rapture and her doubt of the hysterical beliefs of the congregation (family) shows her inner growth from tragedy. When the conclusion came in one swift slash, it was like commonsense winning the day. Need I say I loved it and recommend it to everyone.
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Summary: "The greatest of these is love."
Review: While the novel portrays some horrific events and brutal characters, the overall message is hope and the power of raw love. The characters are carefully crafted and woven together into a powerful story. The audio tapes are also excellent. Don't miss it!
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Summary: The book was excellent, I enjoyed the story immensly.
Review: The Rapture Of Canaan was an intense and solidly woven story of a fictional community made so real for the reader. You were left to believe that there was a religous donomination that practiced like those at the Church of Fire and Brimstone and God's Almighty Baptizing Wind. The background reasearch done in this area was phenomenal. The characters came alive in a way that made you grow to love and understand the very ones you wanted to hate. The story creates an awareness of how people are tied to their religous community and the non-religous needs that are fulfilled. Adolescence trials are portrayed in a way that is very common to all yet foreign in the same sense. The subject material was delivered in a way that allowed my twelve year old son to read along with his dad. I shared this book with students as a summer read. There is something in it for the young and old, its both humorous and sad and once you pick it up you cannot put it down.
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