The Passion of Reverend Nash: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Nothing redeeming
Review: A drinking, smoking, swearing lady reverend who is separated from her husband and has a lousy relationship with her sister. I read and read looking for something to move Reverend Nash up and over the edge of her constant grieving, but the one character who might have shared some insight for her had a sudden stroke within a few pages of his introduction. Too contrived! The symbolism is too blatant; the characters stereotypical. The only one to love in this novel is the nephew and he had a very forced, brief relationship with his aunt.

The author used imagery, but nothing that was especially memorable. The plot twisted every which way. I kept expecting something [anything] to HAPPEN, but Jordanna seemed doomed from the beginning. I had to force myself to read the book after the first few chapters. Don't bother!

Rating:
Summary: Compelling Story About Passion, Loss, and Recovery
Review: I couldn't stop reading this book. I was nabbed immediately by the clear, crisp prose style, the acute observations of family dynamics, and the gutsy depiction of a character who seems almost arrogantly larger-than-life -- to some of the very people who surround her. The character of Jordanna Nash reminded me, in fact, very much of my own older sister (one of the key relationships in the novel is between Jordanna and her younger sister). I loved the depiction of Jordanna Nash's apparently supreme confidence, her occasional obtuseness, and her swelling, wounded heart. She is a character I've never read before, and yet I recognize her type from real life. I was compelled to follow her story until it was through, and though I wished for a different end for Jordanna, I recognized the aptness of the one she's chosen. This is a book about a woman who throws herself into life. It is about connection and moral choices. But mostly it is about how people keep going after tragedy strikes. The style of the book just kept me reading, and I was very sorry when it was through. Too bad the author has only two novels out so far.

Rating:
Summary: This is true to parish life
Review: This book is well-written, not contrived, with subtle but sturdy plot development. I'm most impressed with the author's able depiction of congregational life. Life in a parish is messy, rewarding, and oddly dangerous. This book does remind me of the best narratives about congregational life - yes, Gail Godwin or Buechner's The Final Beast. Author weaves other sources well and there's a nice interplay going on between the kind of healing that spiritual direction offers and the kind of healing that therapy offers. Nice work.