Epiphany

Rating:
Summary: Thought provoking and sincere.
Review: I read this book in one sitting. It is a wonderful story to ponder as we rush through life making assumpitons about others and ourselves. Rather than focus on the disfunctions of families, this books tells the story of the love in this family. Parents do try the best they can and this story does a wonderful job of turning the perspective so that sons and daughters can understand the love of their parents. Also some insight as to just how little children do know about their parents and their history. Great reading, a definite keeper for my home library.

Rating:
Summary: The Epiphany That Could
Review: This book is a nice little fantasy about a father of three grown children, who dies in the first chapter and watches them from the spirit world. They come to grips with their lives and expectations, eventually learning that they didn't know Dad like they thought they did.

Publisher's Weekly says, "Filled with thoughtfulness, wry humor and the occasional touch of magic," which is more than I would have said. I like everything I've heard from McCusker. He has written many strong scripts for radio, and he has been awarded for his children's literature. Epiphany is definitely a good little story, but it isn't deep. There isn't a stirring headspace from the characters. Only their words and the perception of Richard Lee, the father/narrator who dies and lives to tell about it. A few times the dead narrator trick is taken too far.

The big revelation which changes two of the character's perspectives on life was not as stunning as it should have been. I would believe that the trouble swelling within the younger son's heart was enough to drive him to his life-changing moment; but the story uses a small fact about the father's life as the catalyst. The son says, "I barely knew who Dad was," all because of this little detail. I'd sooner believe that he forgets that detail in the swirl of his passions.

I knew from page one this tale would have a happy ending, and I wanted that. But I think I would have been more satisfied if one of the characters had continued to be the disillusioned egocentric he was in the beginning. Still, there's a place for novella's like this, I suppose, but I think, for Christmastime, I'd rather reread Tolstoy's "Where Love is God is."

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding! Must reading for all parents and their childre
Review: This touching and well written book provides a deep insight into who we are and why we are and our relationship with God.

It combines elements of "It's a Wonerful Life" with the parable of the Prodigal Son.

The story is a parable itself. As it teaches us about our family relationships as well as our eternal ones.