The Hawk and the Dove: A Trilogy

Rating:
Summary: Christian fiction at its best!
Review: "The Hawk and the Dove" is one of the best inspirational books that I have ever read. Ms. Wilcock did an outstanding job of characterization. I was touched by the infirmities of the monks and the depth of emotion that each portrayed. Father Peregrine, as abbot of the monastery, exemplified the true meaning of humility, grace and love. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone seeking to understand the grace of God.

Rating:
Summary: Christian fiction at its best!
Review: "The Hawk and the Dove" is one of the best inspirational books that I have ever read. Ms. Wilcock did an outstanding job of characterization. I was touched by the infirmities of the monks and the depth of emotion that each portrayed. Father Peregrine, as abbot of the monastery, exemplified the true meaning of humility, grace and love. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone seeking to understand the grace of God.

Rating:
Summary: Deeply moving--deeply felt
Review: Penelope Wilcock uses an old English monastery as the setting for her book, "The Hawk and the Dove". Within the monastery are unforgettable characters whom she paints with a loving and compassionate hand, showing both their sins and their unbelievable acts of love and sacrifice for God and their fellow man. The main character is Father Peregrine for whom the book is named. Throughout his life as a monk, he develops from the shallow son of an overprivileged upbringing to a man of tremendous faith and compassion, and finally to a shell of a man wracked with physical problems and the aftereffects of an undeserved beating. His interaction with his brothers gives us an example of Christlike love and behavior and likewise his sufferings show us the physical tortures which Jesus endured. This is a moving and inspiring book.

Rating:
Summary: Deeply moving--deeply felt
Review: Penelope Wilcock uses an old English monastery as the setting for her book, "The Hawk and the Dove". Within the monastery are unforgettable characters whom she paints with a loving and compassionate hand, showing both their sins and their unbelievable acts of love and sacrifice for God and their fellow man. The main character is Father Peregrine for whom the book is named. Throughout his life as a monk, he develops from the shallow son of an overprivileged upbringing to a man of tremendous faith and compassion, and finally to a shell of a man wracked with physical problems and the aftereffects of an undeserved beating. His interaction with his brothers gives us an example of Christlike love and behavior and likewise his sufferings show us the physical tortures which Jesus endured. This is a moving and inspiring book.

Rating:
Summary: Deeply moving--deeply felt
Review: Penelope Wilcock uses an old English monastery as the setting for her book, "The Hawk and the Dove". Within the monastery are unforgettable characters whom she paints with a loving and compassionate hand, showing both their sins and their unbelievable acts of love and sacrifice for God and their fellow man. The main character is Father Peregrine for whom the book is named. Throughout his life as a monk, he develops from the shallow son of an overprivileged upbringing to a man of tremendous faith and compassion, and finally to a shell of a man wracked with physical problems and the aftereffects of an undeserved beating. His interaction with his brothers gives us an example of Christlike love and behavior and likewise his sufferings show us the physical tortures which Jesus endured. This is a moving and inspiring book.

Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended, entertaining reading.
Review: Penelope Wilcock's The Hawk And The Dove is a trilogy of novels under one cover. Poignant, moving, rich with imagery and emotion, each of these engaging stories drawn from the brothers of St. Alcuin are presented as being told to a 15-year-old girl by her mother. Tom must decide between the beautiful girl he loves and the call of God upon his life. Francis finds that never again will he need to hide his personal paint beneath a jest. When James cannot escape the truth of who he is, he pours out his grief to God and rises a newborn child of grace. Although these stories are set in an earlier century, modern readers will easily identify with each charter in Wilcock's timeless human dramas of people learning to love and serve one another while growing in their understanding of a tender and compassionate God. Highly recommended reading.

Rating:
Summary: An inspiration and a moving lesson of love!
Review: Penelope Wilcox did a wonderful job of showing us how to love unconditionally. It's easy to say we love people but to read the book and the real examaples puts into perspective what true love is supposed to look like. This books is a fast and easy read, not preachy (as I was afraid it might be) and just a pure joy to read. This is one book that I will not give away but rather lend to friends and family so that I may have it to read again. Be prepared to become so engrossed in the story that you feel like you are in the monestary and be prepared to cry.

Rating:
Summary: A good and thoughtful read
Review: Read as parables, these stories strike at the crux of Christianity--love and faith. Wilcock presents suffering in a way that is redemptive but never shallow, and her portrayals of characters who must live with the results of their own sins and the cruelty of others should touch readers struggling with their own pasts and sorrows.

Rating:
Summary: Refreshing, Deep and Soul-Searching
Review: Refreshing because it takes a course that far too many Christian fiction writers never dare to take - Ms. Wilcock portrays a love story, but between God and man, between brothers through Christ rather than the usual man and woman love story...which helps a lonely person more than dreaming about being in love does. There is no let down because the love she speaks of in this book is there for ME. Deep and soul-searching because you end up feeling what the characters feel - fear, shame, emabarrasment, release, pure love, laughter, anger, etc. You end up seeing yourself mirrored in their struggles...her words give HOPE. In the love of Christ, which is not pretty and clean, but a filthy and bloodied man - Jesus - God the Son - who poured out his blood and gave up His spirit on the cross to God the Father because of His love for me.

Rating:
Summary: This is life and love
Review: The Hawk and the Dove is a thoughtful illumination of life in community - a portrait of what it takes to live authentically and with grace. Father Peregrine, Brother Tom, Brother John, and the others who inhabit the abbey are flawed human beings who are learning what it means to live sacrificially with and for each other. Each also has a gift to bring. I see myself in them and am embarrassed, joy-filled, relieved, hopeful and grateful. In this beautifully written story, we have permission to face our weaknesses because they covered by the blood and love of Christ. We find courage to look at ourselves honestly and can celebrate because his grace and presence in our lives will transform us if we are willing.