The Lights of Tenth Street

Rating:
Summary: 4 1/2 Stars...I've Been Won Over!
Review: Christian fiction can be fickle creature. Sometimes it tackles relevant topics while forgetting to tell a gripping story; other times it captivates us with fast-paced tales while leaving truly important issues in the dust.

Feldhahn surprised me. She faces the issues of Internet porn and sexual addiction with honesty and grace. She manages to show the human side of the story and put it into a spiritual perspective, and--here's the catch--she puts it all in the framework of a thriller.

The story follows Doug Turner, a Christian man with an addictive personality; Ronnie Hanover, a young woman with a dark past and a seedy career; and a number of criminally minded characters who aim to bring down America with a terrorist plot. These principals are thrown together in a well-crafted novel. Although a bit long, Feldhahn keeps us caring about her characters. Yes, she may seem a bit churchy at times, but she throws in dialogue to lighten the mood.

As a man, I enjoyed this book for its story, but I also felt challenged by its call to purity and its unflinching ability to tell the truth about this issue without making it gratuitous.

I've been won over; now I have to go and read Feldhahn's first book.

Rating:
Summary: The Trials and Tribulations of a Suburban Couple
Review: Doug and Sherry Turner live an enviable life in the suburbs of Atlanta and are considered by those who know them as the "perfect couple." The Turners are very involved in their church. But Doug has two secrets: he's addicted to Internet pornography and he visits strip clubs. The club is located on the opposite end of the same street as his home --- Tenth Street, hence the book's title --- both physically and metaphorically.

Working at the strip club is waitress Ronnie Hanover, a young, naïve runaway who has followed her friend to Atlanta to get away from an abusive home life. The moment Doug walks through the strip club's doors, his life becomes intertwined with Ronnie and the seamy goings-on of the club's management. As Doug's secret life is busted wide open by a friend he knows from church, he discovers that he's being blackmailed at work.

Shaunti Feldhahn's latest book takes us behind the scenes of the pornography industry, an issue plaguing many men and their families sitting in many church pews. Not the type of nice-nice stuff that usually shows up in Christian lit. But writing about Internet porn addiction is a completely natural transition for a writer like Feldhahn, whose last book, THE VERITAS CONFLICT, dealt with, in her own words, "real life as a Christian --- the real, daily battles that all of us face in our secular culture." Some experts estimate that 1 out of 3 Christian men struggle with pornography addiction.

What makes this book interesting is that Feldhahn introduces us to both the world of the addict and the world to which those addicts are addicted, and makes us see that those two worlds are intimately connected. In the epilogue, Feldhahn writes, "Before I began this book, I had never given much thought to the sex industry, believing --- as many of us do --- that it was not touching me or my community personally. It just didn't seem to intersect my suburban, comfortable life in any way. What I didn't realize was that this industry impacts all of us in both subtle and pervasive ways, whether we are aware of it or not."

Pornography and strip clubs are hard subjects to write about in generalities. There's no getting around the fact that both involve sex, women taking their clothes off on a stage, using provocative and suggestive movements and sexual favors granted outside the club. It's just the way it is. Feldhahn does a remarkable job setting the strip club scene without teetering on the titillating and crossing that fine line between informing and ensnaring.

Of course, I read the book as a woman, from a woman's perspective and was impressed with the way Feldhahn seemed to get into Doug's head, letting us see things from a man who is trying to make a break from pornography. I can drive down the highway and not look twice at a provocative billboard. Men, on the other hand, can't.

I didn't know that.

But the book's underlying message hit home with me for another reason: someone I love recently discovered that her husband is addicted to pornography and visiting strip clubs. My friend and her husband, like our fictional couple, Doug and Sherry, are devout Christians and looked upon by everyone that knows them as "the perfect couple." But when my friend discovered her husband's addiction, there was a lot of crying and sleepless nights. For lack of a better way to describe how ticked she was, she wanted to kill him. In Feldhahn's book, however, when Sherry finds out about Doug's illicit activities, she is shocked and cries a little, but then seems to become this "super-holy-human-being" of understanding and forgiveness. It is at this point that Feldhahn lost me; her reaction reminded me that I was reading fiction.

From that point on, too many scenes and too much dialogue begin to sound wooden and like articles Feldhahn might have read while doing research. After some passages, I actually asked myself, "Who talks like that?" All of it was information that moved the story line but so much of it didn't ring true, which is too bad. You can tell Feldhahn poured her heart and soul into this book and its subject matter is timely and important to many "head-in-the-sand-churches" who would rather send their congregations out to picket adult book stores than minister to those affected by them.

Feldhahn's book sheds light on a problem too many consider to be "private" and none of anyone else's business. Instead, she demonstrates that premise is wrong.

Yesterday, I sent a copy of this book to my friend who I mentioned above. After she reads it, she has told me that she will pass it on to another friend who just discovered her husband is also addicted to pornography, who asked her if she could pass it on to another friend who's going through the same thing with her husband.

Clearly, it's the right book for a lot of women.

--- Reviewed by Diana Keough

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful portrayal of how marriages can overcome porn
Review: I couldn't put this book down! It grabs your interest from the first scene, and its realistic portrayals of the problems of pornography, terrorism, and marital conflict are amazing.

Best of all, this book can start the dialogue on how we can more effectively help marriages that are being hurt and damaged by pornography. For women, it can help us understand the temptations our husbands feel, and show us a way out. And for men, it can help give a roadmap on how you can approach the problem, find accountability, and win the battle.

I dealt with pornography in my book Honey, I Don't Have a Headache Tonight, and now when I speak at marriage conferences, I always include The Lights of Tenth Street on my book table, too. We need help to recapture intimacy in our marriages, and this helps point the way.

Rating:
Summary: Courageous enough to tackle the tough issues
Review: In Lights of Tenth Street, Ms. Feldhahn has taken the tough road- dealing with sexual addictions with a Christian response. This is not for the faint at heart, but has incredible suspense (kept me up at night more than many 'popular' authors), and is amazingly straightforward and sensitive. While Feldhahn's first novel, Veritas, was also quite enjoyable, Lights of Tenth Street has a tight storyline that rivals any novel I've ever read. She has matured into a world-class author. Not only a pleasure to escape into the plot, but a message that could change forever the way you view others.

Rating:
Summary: Christian thriller of massive proportions!
Review: It's called the "sequel" to Shaunti Feldhahn's previous novel The Veritas Project. But in many ways, it's not. The sequel isn't exactly a sequel in that it doesn't demand that you read the first book first - it can operate on its own. And operate it does!

Due to the sweet setup I have going with my brother (he buys the books, and I read 'em after he's done), I got to read this book almost immediately after it was released. The plot focuses on two primary characters, more or less. Sherry, the Harvard roommate of Claire Rivers (whom the plot revolved around in the first book) is now our protagonist. Sherry is now ten year older, married to Doug Turner, and has two kids of her own. The other main character is Ronnie Hanover, an abused teenager who makes a break for freedom from her home and joins her friend Tiffany in Atlanta, working at a strip club. At first, Ronnie despises the idea of the stripping, and only works as a waitress. But goading from her coworkers coupled with her financial needs soon finds her up on stage with the rest.

Meantime, there is a national organization of crime working the scene, weaving an incredibly complex web of conspiracy and intrigue; a scheme beyond the understanding of most involved, and beyond the reader's, until the very end. The mysterious Proxy is working with his second in command Tyson with their "clients" to perpetrate a terrorist act beyond the scope of the 9/11 tragedy.

Back at the Turners, there's a problem. Doug Turner finds himself sliding back into the same dangerous temptations that he fell into as a young man. He attempts to suppress and hide them, but he soon finds himself looking after female coworkers a little longer than he should, and reading bad magazines, then stopping by the strip club where his business partners held a meeting once - "just for the food". Doug is forced to deal with the problem when a worker at his company shows up with video of Doug at the strip club...and assures him that, unless he signs off on certain business deals, the video will make its way to his family and friends. Doug finds no alternative, and complies.

Of course, in the meantime, there are the angels that are somewhat involved in the story. To be honest, I think the angels are an unnecessary part of the book. In the style of Frank Peretti, the angels are in the story throughout, but do not really stick out in terms of what they do. They are the ministering spirits to the characters, but the plot focuses on the characters alone. When I began reading this, and I found a part about the angels, I was like "Oh yeah, I forgot there are angels in these books."

There's a lot more to the plot, but it's too complex to go further. I could say things like "Will Doug confront his dangerous temptations? Will the crime organization win the day? Read this book to find out!" but I won't.

I have to say though, that the quality of this book highly impressed me. Once the action got rolling, I could barely put the book down. I was actually exclaiming out loud when things were going bad. I had an adrenaline rush just sitting on my bed reading. I was riveted to the action, and I feel certain you will be too.

And of course, comment on the sexual themes contained in this book. The author of the forward to the book stated that he wanted the book written in such a way that his 14-year-old teenager wouldn't stumble. He and I both agree that Feldhahn did a good job. While you shouldn't find bad thoughts popping into your mind, (unless you allow your imagination TOO much creative energy) this book most certainly isn't for younger readers. Feldhahn doesn't go too far in her descriptions, but nonetheless, we are inside the strip club numerous times with Ronnie. Somehow, though, the author managed to avoid play-by-play descriptions, or anything else that would be considered less than wholesome.

Feldhahn also explains some of her motives in the end of the book. She explained how strange and revealing it was to try to "get inside the male head" for this story, and includes a humorous discussion between her husband and her on the subject.

Overall, this book is an excellent fiction read, and it can shed a lot of light on the darker subjects that lots of people deal with in private, such as addiction to pornography. Perhaps it can also help us all to have less judging attitudes to those who are struggling, or even those who perpetrate the sinful temptations themselves. Great read and great message: what more could you ask for?

Rating:
Summary: Two worlds, one street.
Review: Ronnie Hanover works on one end of Tenth Street. Doug Turner lives on the other end of Tenth Street. Ronnie works at a "gentlemen's club" while Doug lives in an upscale housing subdivision. Two ends of the same street, yet worlds apart.

When the two ends of Tenth Street collide, Doug and Ronnie will have to fight for their lives. But the fight isn't just against human attackers. Spiritual enemies are out for blood as well, and they have their sights set on spilling Doug's and Ronnie's blood.

Shaunti Feldhahn has done what few authors are able to do: she has written two stories, each of which could have sustained a book on its own, and woven them together into one of the most compelling stories of the year.

The first story is about sexual addiction and how it affects family, friends, and the church. This book may be written by a female, but the addiction point-of-view is from a male. As noted at the end of the book, Shaunti did plenty of research and interviews before attempting to write this part of the story. Chances are many men will see some of Doug in their lives.

The second story is the novel part of the book, which involves Ronnie and her job at the gentlemen's club. Unfortunately the club is just a cover for a terrorist organization. This organization uses a clueless Ronnie, and other stage girls, to help them blackmail top managers and officers of companies (including Doug) into unknowingly preparing for the biggest terrorist attack ever on U.S. soil. When Ronnie finds out that there is more to the club than meets the eye, she will have to run for her life. Her flight will land her on Doug's doorstep. Now they both must stay alive long enough to hand the FBI the evidence needed to stop this terrorist organization.

Many people will probably be turned off by the first half of the book, which methodically follows Doug stumble into pornography and his slow rise back onto God's path. But there is a lot of truth to this tale. And the reward for reading through this truthful fiction is an exciting conclusion that will make it difficult for you to put the book down.

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: There were 2 subplots in this story. First, there was Doug and Sherry. Doug was struggling with his addiction to
pornography, and Sherry was struggling to come to terms with that. Then there was Ronnie. She ran away from an abusive home
to Atlanta, where she got a job in a strip joint. Eventually, she got promoted to stripper. And throughout the book was
this massive terrorist plot, involving Ronnie, Doug, and Sherry, and their friends.

This book was incredible. The book showed that no matter how far away we stray from God, He loves us and is waiting for us.
It doesn't matter what our past is. It doesn't matter if we are a prostitute or addict. God is there for us. The grace
message was brought out great.

This book was very suspenseful as we waited for the terrorist plot to play out. We had some surprises in the book, including
Marco and Maris.

Some of the characters were annoying. Melanie was really annoying, when she seemed to think that church activities should
take priority over family. She was also very judgmental. I loved how Sherry put her in her place, when Melanie was
criticizing some couple in church for being in marriage counseling. Sherry told her that maybe they have a better marriage because they are willing to go to counseling and work on their problems.

The book showed how rampant sexual addiction was in the church. Everybody seems so perfect in the church, yet, we are all so
flawed in some way.

This was a well written book. I will be looking for more books by this author.

Rating:
Summary: Lights of Tengh Street
Review: This book was among the best I have ever read. I cried, laughed, had goosebumps. I felt as if the Holy Spirit came right up off the pages to me. I read alot of Christian literature and have never felt so moved and touched by a book as I did this one. I recommend it highly for men and women, young and old.

Rating:
Summary: It helped me to understand the man's point of view...
Review: This was an amazing read! I picked this book up knowing nothing about this author and after reading it, can't wait to read anything else she writes. The Lights of Tenth Street challenged me to see things through the eyes of others, to see past just the physical happenings of life and to see what God may be doing in the spiritual realm as well. I love the way Shanti researches her subjects and pours her heart into this book. It is exciting and keeps your attention throughout as it seeks to awaken the heart of the reader.
If you read this book your life will be touched... I know mine was!

Rating:
Summary: A novel that will touch your life!!!
Review: This was an amazing read! I picked this book up knowing nothing about this author and after reading it, can't wait to read anything else she writes. The Lights of Tenth Street challenged me to see things through the eyes of others, to see past just the physical happenings of life and to see what God may be doing in the spiritual realm as well. I love the way Shanti researches her subjects and pours her heart into this book. It is exciting and keeps your attention throughout as it seeks to awaken the heart of the reader.
If you read this book your life will be touched... I know mine was!