Gateway to heaven

Rating:
Summary: A compelling novel of ideas and emotion, well worth reading
Review: Gateway to Heaven is a surprising, moving novel. In many ways, it reads as if one of the better Victorian novelists-- novelists of ideas, religion, romance, humor, and emotion-- were transported into the 1960s to write a book about the time. Gateway possesses some of the faults of a first novel (especially a Victorian first novel)-- occassionally it is a bit difficult to believe, and occasionally the conversations are a bit too abstract-- but its virtues in emotive power and intellectual weight far outweigh these vices. A rare piece of art.

Rating:
Summary: A compelling novel of ideas and emotion, well worth reading
Review: Unlike the stunning book A SEVERE MERCY, Vanauken's novel GATEWAY TO HEAVEN is neither emotionally uplifting nor fascinating. It is melodrama, with most of the conversations being "overdone". Too much hype. This novel is not Vanauken's best work. Better to stick with A SEVERE MERCY.

Rating:
Summary: Subpar novel
Review: Unlike the stunning book A SEVERE MERCY, Vanauken's novel GATEWAY TO HEAVEN is neither emotionally uplifting nor fascinating. It is melodrama, with most of the conversations being "overdone". Too much hype. This novel is not Vanauken's best work. Better to stick with A SEVERE MERCY.