Pascal's Wager

Rating:
Summary: A Heartfelt and Intelligent Quest for Answers
Review: "Pascal's Wager" tells the story of Jill McGavock, a graduate student who needs answers as she comes face to face with her mother's illness and mortality. Both drawn to and exasperated by philosopher Sam Bakalis, Jill is a three-dimensional character with human flaws, a strong voice, and a desire to be loved. With nothing to lose, she challenges a God she does not believe in to prove His existence and redefine her world.

Rating:
Summary: A Heartfelt and Intelligent Quest for Answers
Review: "Pascal's Wager" tells the story of Jill McGavock, a graduate student who needs answers as she comes face to face with her mother's illness and mortality. Both drawn to and exasperated by philosopher Sam Bakalis, Jill is a three-dimensional character with human flaws, a strong voice, and a desire to be loved. With nothing to lose, she challenges a God she does not believe in to prove His existence and redefine her world.

Rating:
Summary: A "conversion story" that breaks the mold!
Review: Anyone already familiar with Nancy Rue's work knows that her flare for imagery, characters, and dialogue is second to few, and this book is no exception. It is engaging from the first chapter and never ceases to be so. And as always, Rue's characters (especially the sardonic heroine) drive a unique plot in which real life events become captivating. As for the theme of "intellectual Christianity," the two-star review below seems to expect a single author to explore every facet of faith, science, and religious diversity within a single, less-than-300-page novel-an unrealistic expectation, at best. Every religious argument ever concocted by humanity cannot be explored and refuted in a work of fiction that also contains a decent plot and round characters. This novel simply intends to cause Christians and non-Christians alike to examine faith as more than just blind belief. Jill confronts her own beliefs regarding the existence God and the soul, comparing them with the convictions of a Christian man she is becoming more and more attracted to, despite what she deems his "irrational" faith. Of course, it is a Christian novel, so Jill's must be a "conversion story." However, this is not a typical Christian formula novel. The people within these pages make us care, and the painful twists of Jill's mother's illness are not always predictable. It is the journey, not the destination, that makes this book a winner.

Rating:
Summary: A "conversion story" that breaks the mold!
Review: Anyone already familiar with Nancy Rue's work knows that her flare for imagery, characters, and dialogue is second to few, and this book is no exception. It is engaging from the first chapter and never ceases to be so. And as always, Rue's characters (especially the sardonic heroine) drive a unique plot in which real life events become captivating. As for the theme of "intellectual Christianity," the two-star review below seems to expect a single author to explore every facet of faith, science, and religious diversity within a single, less-than-300-page novel-an unrealistic expectation, at best. Every religious argument ever concocted by humanity cannot be explored and refuted in a work of fiction that also contains a decent plot and round characters. This novel simply intends to cause Christians and non-Christians alike to examine faith as more than just blind belief. Jill confronts her own beliefs regarding the existence God and the soul, comparing them with the convictions of a Christian man she is becoming more and more attracted to, despite what she deems his "irrational" faith. Of course, it is a Christian novel, so Jill's must be a "conversion story." However, this is not a typical Christian formula novel. The people within these pages make us care, and the painful twists of Jill's mother's illness are not always predictable. It is the journey, not the destination, that makes this book a winner.

Rating:
Summary: Great premise that fizzled out.
Review: Disappointing. A fascinating premise so I started with great anticipation of a discourse between rationality and spirituality through the 2 protagonists, Jill and Sam. Unfortuantely, halfway through the book the conclusion was forgone as the discourse became lopsided. Also I was also disappointed that Sam as a philosopher did not at least discuss other religions. To tackle the possibility of God/a god and then not discuss which god left an intellectual and spiritual vacuum. I would have enjoyed the book more if it had been left open ended to ponder the outcome of the wager for Jill by myself. If you want a read that supports a conclusion you have already arrived at to get a warm fuzzy feeling, you will enjoy this book. Otherwise, you may be disappointed as I was.