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- The Cider House Rules - Review by an author
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The Cider House Rules
John Irving
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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The Cider House Rules (Miramax Collector's Series)
ASIN: 0345387651
Release Date: 1994-01-09 |
Book Description
"AN OLD-FASHIONED, BIG-HEARTED NOVEL . . . with its epic yearning caught in the 19th century, somewhere between Trollope and Twain . . . The rich detail makes for vintage Irving."
--The Boston Sunday Globe
"The Cider House Rules is filled with people to love and to feel for. . . . The characters in John Irving's novel break all the rules, and yet they remain noble and free-spirited. Victims of tragedy, violence, and injustice, their lives seem more interesting and full of thought-provoking dilemmas than the lives of many real people."
--The Houston Post
"John Irving's sixth and best novel . . . He is among the very best storytellers at work today. At the base of Irving's own moral concerns is a rare and lasting regard for human kindness."
--The Philadelphia Inquirer
"Entertaining and affecting . . . John Irving is the most relentlessly inventive writer around. He proliferates colorful incidents and crotchets of character. . . . A truly astounding amount of artistry and ingenuity."
--The San Diego Union
Customer Reviews:
His Best Work.......2007-09-20
This is the best by Irving. It was my 1st read and still the best. The only book I read twice, 15 years apart.
Widow for one Year #2
World according to Garp # 3
Prayer for Owen Meaney # 4
If I Never find You #5
Hotel New Hampshire #6
then Son of the Circus
The Earlier works Water Method man, 50 LB Marriage etc... Not so much
Cider House Rules is a beautiful Thought provoking book. Read it.
in response.......2007-09-10
Anything I have to say about this novel has already been said below. It's wonderful, and I devoured it in two days.
The one thing I will say: The end, sure, was predictable, BUT, Irving allows the reader as much imagination as he/she can muster. There are countless possibilities because the characters are all so different and well developed. I closed the book at least 3 times thinking "Oh my... If this ends the way I think it will right now, I'm going to cry for sure..."
I love this novel. After reading the other reviews on his work, I have to read the other novels too.
Not one of Irving's bests.......2007-04-28
I'm definitely an Irving fan, having read 7 of his books. However, this is not one of my top three. I was a bit disappointed. I found that THE CIDER HOUSE RULES lacked some of the emotional zeal that A WIDOW FOR ONE YEAR and THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP had. I never fell in love with the characters of this book.
How do I love thee.......2007-04-13
Oh Irving, how do I love thee.
Another beautiful, fantastic read by Irving.
Cider house rules is another example of Irving's intricate attention to character and unusual story telling.
The characters in this book are wonderfully flawed, the story is detailed and rich.
If you saw and liked the movie, it has nothing on the book. The book is quite different from the movie, but it will not dissapoint.
Another favourite of mine.
The Cider House Rules - Review by an author.......2007-03-04
Doctor Wilbur Larch who was the administrator over an orphanage and occasionally performed abortions became attached to Homer Wells, one of the young men who was adopted twice and brought back. He taught him everything he knew when he grew older and the young man was great help, except he protested his conscious on the abortion issue. One day he left with a couple on a journey to a new life and experienced things he had never seen or done. All the while Dr. Larch's heart was broken because the young man left and he was trying in every way to get him back. He made fake credentials for him and sent him a doctor bag with instruments. Homer fell in love, wound up with a broken heart, worked on an apple farm and performed an abortion for a young black girl whose own father had gotten her pregnant. When he received a letter saying that the Doctor Larch had died, he left on a train and came back there to take up the doctor's mission. The author created a world where truth rules, one which would not be tolerated by the well-meaning media in our current milieu.
Trish New, author of The Thrill of Hope and South State Street Journal.
Book Description
Set in rural Maine in the first half of this century, this is the story of Homer Wells, an orphan who is raised and mentored by Wilbur Larch, the doctor at the orphanage. Larchs capacity for kindness is saintly, but he is also an ether addict. When he and Homer come into conflict, Homer leaves the only family he has ever known. Homers new life provides more excitement than he could have imagined, especially when he falls in love for the first time. But, when forced to make decisions that will change the course of his future, Homer finally realizes that he cant escape his past.
Customer Reviews:
Rules Of Life.......2003-05-20
"Entertaining and affecting" is how the San Diego Union- Tribune describes The Cider House Rules. "Irving is among the very best story tellers at work today"as described by the Philadelphia Inquirer and that is correct. A native of New Hampshire Irving depicts the scenery of Maine as if he has lived there forever. The story of a young boy falling in love over and over again will have you reading till the very end.
Homer Well, an orphan of St. Cloud's , has a irregular childhood. Since he is the child of St. Cloud's he is forced to be the "older brother". When he leaves he is forced to make a heart breaking decision between the woman he loves and his best friend. Along the way, he encounters people and place he has never see before.
Dr. Larch the "father" of Homer and physician of the orphanage, falls in love with Homer. He loves him like a son and encourages him to take over the orphanage after Larch has passed. Larch has to convince Homer and The Board to allow his to be the primary physician.
The Cider House Rules is a book for everyone. It has romance, action, and end of your seat excitement. It's a true masterpiece.
Don't be so hard on this screenplay.......2002-04-10
I have been reading some of the reviews of both the movie and this book, and the people who have read the novel all seem to feel that the heart is no longer in the movie. I read the novel, and it is one of my favourite books of all time, and I can safely say that what needed to be kept to keep the story beautiful was kept. True, many of the plotlines and characters are lost, notably Melony... I really missed her... but I think the biggest mistake that a person writing an adapted screenplay can make is to try to keep too much of the story in there. Books are meant to be read over long periods of time, so there are always many storylines happening at once, and many characters. But in a movie, there are two hours, three hours tops. The storyline has to be relatively simple, and the amount of characters has to be very few, or it becomes episodic and jumpy. What cutting out so much of the book allowed John Irving to do was spend more time on what he left in. He could go much more into depth with the storylines and characters that were kept. Imagine trying to jam everything that was in the novel into a two hour movie. You would end up with endless flat characters, and a bunch of even flatter storylines. Which would be a disgrace to the novel. This is not a disgrace. It takes the most important parts, the most important characters, and squeezes them into a much shorter period of time, and makes for a good movie. A great film and and a great novel do not consist of the same things.
Brief.......2000-06-27
I didn't read this book but I was enchanted by the movie. However I am going to buy the screenplay and devour this poverful story again. I would recommend it to everybody who is trying to relax and find another beautiful thing to do.
Basic storyline, but not much more..........2000-04-01
At the onset, it is important for me to disclose that I have not seen the movie or read the novel--perhaps this affects my impression of the screenplay. Clearly, Irving is a gifted author, and his talent as a screenwriter is also evident in this publication. The dialogue appears real, the descriptions are vivid, and the drama of the plot forms the mental pictures that authors strive to create. That said, many aspects of the story seem to fall flat, with characters remaining rather one-dimensional and a storyline that appears disjointed. I can imagine the rich subtext these plot excursions might create in the novel, but in screenplay form, the result is a choppy progression to a predictable resolution. It would be difficult enough to address such significant social issues in a full length novel, and this adaption falls rather short in delving into the issues the characters confront. Many times, I felt myself wondering about character motivation and direction; at other times, a character would emerge that I didn't remember, again, because most characterizations were shallow. While it is clear that Irving tells a fascinating story, the screenplay adaptation failed to meet my expectations. It was a quick read that offered an intriguing basic storyline, but not much more.
I'm so TORN!.......2000-03-28
Oh, how to review this screenplay? While I am thrilled that Irving has finally adapted his own work, and seems very pleased with the result himself, I simply CANNOT bear to let my beloved Cider House Rules go! Where is Melody? Angel? It's impossible for Irving's script to have either the impressive scope or the attention to detail of his novel, and so much has to fall by the wayside in order to suit movie audiences. Sadly, some of what had to go was what kept this story from being sappy and muddled-- we're left now with a somewhat ambiguous discussion on abortion (a subject painted in clear black and white in the novel) and a LOT of exposition omitted or given half their due (as in Homer's continued returns to the orphanage). The characters are forced to be one-dimensional (Candy especially) and consolidated (Homer and Angel, various orphans).
I really do applaud Irving's effort, but I hoped for more from a man who seems so particular about his work. Stupid Hollywood.
Customer Reviews:
misleading.......2007-07-02
be sure to check what you are getting--I thought I was getting the novel and received only the first half of the screenplay!
Product Description
3 Book Set; Until I Find You; the Cider House Rules; a Prayer for Owen Meany By John Irving.
Product Description
3 Titles By Irving - A Son of the Circus - The Cider House Rules - A Prayer for Owen Meany
Product Description
7 massmarket paperback Titles By Irving - A Prayer for Owen Meany - World According to Garp - Son of the Circus - Widow for One Year - Hotel New Hampshire - Water-method Man - Cider House Rules
Average customer rating:
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Cider House Rules
Manufacturer: BLACK SWAN (TWLD)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GSD742 |
Book Description
Curtain Up
Rosie lived a knave's life on the streets of London, singing for her supper with a ragtag band of actors who were always one step ahead of the law. It was a credit to her thespian skills everyone thought she was a boy. But even Rosie couldn't fool a shrewd observer like Sir Anthony Rycliffe, a dangerous and exciting man with a few secrets of his own.
Now she had to play the most difficult role of her careeroffstage, as Rycliffe's wife, in an arranged marriage. Her only obstacle was that devil Rycliffe, wreaking havoc with her senses each time he kissed the well-rehearsed smile off her lips.
Customer Reviews:
Dodd Continues to Entertain in Fun Elizabethan Historical.......2007-06-22
For years, Rosencrantz, aka Rosie, doesn't remember when life wasn't a stage. Adopted by the leader of an acting troupe, Sir Danny Plympton, he'd passed Rosie off as his son so that she could pose as a male in order to play female roles on stage. So far the ruse has worked until the pair uncover a treasonous plot against the monarchy and flee to the estate of Sir Anthony (Tony) Rycliffe. Here Sir Anthony, the handsome rogue quickly realizes that Rosencrantz is not a boy, but a very desirable woman. Unfortunately for Tony, not only is Rosie a woman, but one whose buried memories are about to be revealed which puts Tony's claim to Odyssey Manor in jeopardy.
Christina Dodd has been a favorite of mine for years and reading this reprint only amplified my pleasure for her talent once again. Although it had a rather convoluted and slow start, I was soon caught up in the adventuresome frolic with Tony, Rosie, and her delightfully cheeky adoptive father Sir Danny whose outlandish personality afforded some laugh out loud moments. Along with a fully robust cast of characters including Rosie's Uncle Will (William Shakespeare), Lady Honora, Queen Elizabeth and the cast members of Sir Danny's acting troupe, Dodd takes you on memorable ride through an exciting period of history.
Rosie was a well-crafted character as was Tony and their romance was both stimulating as well as sensual with dialogs peppered with amusing double entendres. What you will also find is a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth whose mercurial moods could quickly turn from witty and charming to shrewd and unforgiving. One thing I was somewhat confused about was at times Dodd tossed in a menacing presence lurking in some of the background scenes but I don't believe she ever explained who it was or why they were there. However, with nit-picking aside, this was still a good read and one I can recommend.
Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization
Untypical Dodd-Typically GOOD!.......2006-12-06
Rosie-Rosencrantz to all who know her as the young man her adopted father has disguised her as-has come to the country with him in order to flee London. "Sir" Danny Plympton, Rosie's surrogate father, is an actor in love with his own dramatic flair, who has overheard a plot against the queen-and by no less than the noble patron of his rival and friend, William Shakespeare.
Sir Danny has chosen to take the troupe to the estate of Sir Anthony Rycliffe-the self-proclaimed (and unchallenged) Greatest Lover in England. But Rosie is troubled by her stay at the estate-not only does Sir Anthony immediately see through her disguise, but he has settled on her to be his wife-largely to escape the unwanted pursuit of another lady who has announced her intent to wed him-but also because it is obvious to society by the members of the guest list at his current gathering that he is in the market to wed. (Besides, he wants her.) *G*
And then there are the dreams. Rosie has always had disturbing dreams, but they have grown far darker and more frequent during her time at Rycliffe's estate. And why does so much of it seem so familiar?
Christina Dodd has fashioned an oddly quirky tale, set in the days of the Bard of bards. The originality of the characters requires a bit of adjustment as the reader settles down into the realization that this differs somewhat from the usual fare of the genre, and perhaps even a bit from the author's own customary style. But, once done, the tale is enjoyable and entertaining-to a great extent because of the story's characters, which manage to remain true to the times while not treading the path of cliche.
The mystery surrounding the circumstances of Rosie's past-and of her future-furnish the plot which drives the story, and Dodd maintains both suspense and tension throughout, even though the solution to all problems is obvious fairly early on. Another well-written effort by this popular author, sure to be enjoyed by old and new fans alike.
Reviewed by Lee M
Copyright © 2006 CK2S Kwips and Kritiques. All rights reserved.
Well it wasnt horrible. .......2005-01-27
Maybe I expected too much out of this book, but its no more then I expect out of the other Dodd books I have read. While this story was not terrible, it was not even close to what she usually writes. Maybe I had too high expectations, but I felt this story fell short. It did not have much depth and was all over the place. The characters were not as well developed as they could have been. I think this was suppose to be more of a comedy, but came of corny. I did enjoy the story, and although it had a slow start, it does get better, a little anyway. I just thought with a title like "The Greatest Lover in All England" it would be one of the best stories I read. Well the Greates Lover was a dunce most of the time, unless he was trying to use seduction. As a man in any other situation, he did not measure up. He had quite a "duh" capacity. Rosie was alright. Nothing special with her either.
Not the worst I have read, not the best, but so far my least favorit of Dodds books so far.
Funny and Delightful!.......2004-03-18
Orphaned as a young child, the only life Rosie can remember is traveling, and appearing on stage with a ragtag band of actors. Disguised as a boy, Rosie is Sir Dannyýs daughter and part-time son, who barely live above the law. But Sir Danny has plans for Rosie. Plans which involve an arranged marriage to Sir Anthony Rycliffe, master of the Queenýs guard, and the first to see the woman beneath Rosieýs disguise. The Queen awarded Sir Anthony an unclaimed estate for his loyal service. But thereýs talk of an heir who could return and stake a rightful claim. And if Sir Anthony doesnýt have enough to worry about, he must also protect Rosie from someone who would rather have her out of the picture permanently.
This story is full of Ms. Doddýs delightful humor. I was hooked in the first few pages and found it difficult to put the book down. A sexy, compelling love story with great main and secondary characters ý Sir Danny and Lady Honora come to mind. And even William Shakespeare himself plays a supporting role. Definitely a must read, especially for Dodd fans such as myself.
Delightful Characters and Fascinating Plot.......2003-08-25
Christina Dodd has a talent for creating delightful characters and fascinating plots. And she perfectly captures the merriness and the danger of colorful life in late Elizabethan England in her excellent novel, The Greatest Lover In All England.
Since her narrow escape from danger as a small child, orphaned Rosie has been raised by her beloved father figure, the notorious actor Daniel Plympton. Danny, Rosie and their jolly acting troupe flee London when Danny's life is endangered by his discovering a powerful plot against Queen Elizabeth.
They arrive at Odyssey Manor, the estate of the dashing Sir Anthony Rycliffe, the master of the Queen's Guard. Rosie, now twenty-one, has always acted with the troupe, disguised as a boy who plays women's roles. As sparks fly between Rosie and Tony and they narrowly escape an assassin, Tony discovers that their love is threatened by puzzling memories from Rosie's past and that seemingly everyone has a motive to kill at least one of them. Revelations from Rosie's past pit her against Tony, and their witty sparring and romantic tension is one of the pleasures of the book.
This fast-paced romantic suspense novel keeps us constantly entertained and guessing as we root for the sympathetic and charming Rosie and Tony. Supporting characters such as Danny, Lady Honora and Uncle Will (William Shakespeare) are well developed and equally delightful. Dodd has created an especially lively portrait of Queen Elizabeth. Humor and pathos pull us through a wide range of emotions as we race through the novel's many surprises. This thoroughly engaging story pleasantly transports us to a wild and creative moment in history, which we experience through fun and likable characters.
Average customer rating:
- Not as good as the first
- All right, we get it already!
- Kind of beat
- Plagiarized scenes
- Dissappointing ending to an otherwise good series
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On the Oceans of Eternity
S. M. Stirling
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Stirling, S.M.
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Against the Tide of Years
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Dies the Fire (Roc Science Fiction)
ASIN: 0451457803
Release Date: 2000-04-10 |
Amazon.com
In the bestselling Island in the Sea of Time, 20th-century Nantucket was inexplicably hurled back to the Bronze Age. In the sequel, Against the Tide of Years, the villainous renegade William Walker introduced muskets, cannon, and other deadly anachronisms to Odysseus's Greece, making himself king and positioning himself to overthrow the democratic Republic of Nantucket and destroy his archenemy, Commodore Marian Alston. Now, in the trilogy's rousing conclusion, On the Oceans of Eternity, Walker's powerful army conquers Troy and invades Babylon, Nantucket's last great ally, as Walker's blood brother, the king of Tartessos, blocks Commodore Alston's Nantucket navy at the straits of Gibraltar. If Nantucket's tiny forces cannot defeat Walker's army and allies, the world will be plunged into a Dark Age bleaker and more devastating than any known in our history.
On the Oceans of Eternity ends cleanly, yet leaves the door open for a number of interesting sequels--and how often can you say that? Like its prequels, On the Oceans of Eternity is big, bloody, and ambitious, but always fast-paced and fascinating. This fun, intelligent series is perfect not only for action-adventure, alternate history, time travel, and military-SF fans but also for epic fantasy readers, for Burroughs and Haggard fans craving a modern update of the lost-civilization novel, and for anyone who loves Patrick O'Brian's sensational sea battles. --Cynthia Ward
Book Description
Ten years ago, inhabitants of the twentieth century and the Bronze Age were tossed together by the Event. But as two worlds converge, only one can be the victor in a battle to lead this strange new world.
Praise for Against the Tide of Years:
"S. M. Stirling concocts another exciting and explosive tale of ambition, ingenuity, intrigue, and discovery."--Jane Lindskold, author of When the Gods Are Silent
"Confirms what readers of the first book already knew: S.M. Stirling is writing some of the best straight-ahead science fiction the genre has ever seen."--Amazing Magazine
Praise for Island in the Sea of Time:
"One of the best time travel/alternate history stories I've ever read, period. An outstanding piece of work."--Harry Turtledove
"A page-turner that is certain to win the author legions of new fans."--George R.R. Martin
"Compelling."--Science Fiction Chronicle
Customer Reviews:
Not as good as the first.......2007-08-24
This book is a pageturner. There's plot in abundance, and plenty of action.
Unfortunately, this book suffers from being overly simplistic and idealistic. Most of it is war and fighting, with the Nantucket islanders either being superhumanly competent "good people" vs. evil sociopaths, sadists and neo-nazis. The supreme military commander always ends up on the front lines or the behind the scenes elite missions. The guy out for a trek through America can organize raiding parties with the natives in a couple of days and appear silently behind scouts to snap their necks with his bare hands. The leadership is brilliant, and none of the main characters suffers any serious loss or makes critical errors of judgment.
The first book in this series started out with an interesting premise, but at this point it's about as realistic and surprising as a Tom Clancy novel.
All right, we get it already!.......2007-06-14
Ok, Mr. Stirling, we get it! After 1,800 pages or so we're quite aware that when someone dies, they crap their pants. In the future, please limit yourself to no more than two descriptions of this fact per book. I'll allow up to one other indirect reference to the fecal stench of battle. But for the love of God, you need let people die once in awhile without feeling compelled to describe the postmortem action of their bowels!
Kind of beat .......2007-04-06
I liked the series overall but I had a problem with a few things. The transcontinental Ranger expedition didnt seem to advance the plot. The ending seemed rushed and yet dragged on. I was looking forward to big Waterloo/Gettsburg style battle and instead Walker is poisoned, boring. Mr. Stirling seems to prefer endings where everyone ends up friends, in this series, in the Warlord series which is awesome by the way, and in the Dies the Fire trilogy. Throughout the series I trouble getting over the fact that that there were women in the military forces. I know that sentance seems bad, and Stirling is broad minded and liberal which is great. However in battles of the sort described in this series men have a great advantage over women, men are simply stronger. This counts for a lot in hand to hand combat, or carrying a sixty lb pack which is a lot easier when you weight 180 lbs instead of 135 lbs, and when crewing a Civil War type cannon. I apoligize if I sound like a male chauvinist and I guess it makes sense that if the Islanders' didnt use women they simply wouldnt have enough forces to fight Walker.
Plagiarized scenes.......2006-07-22
I'm very disappointed by the fact that Mr. Stirling plagiarized scenes from the movie Zulu for portions of this book. I was loving the series and reading it as fast as I could when I came across scenes virtually copies from the movie. I've enjoyed everything Mr. Stirling has written so far, but this was just very, very disappointing to me.
Dissappointing ending to an otherwise good series.......2005-11-10
The first two books of this trilogy were actually quite good. I was impressed with much of the detail for books 1 and 2. However, Book 3 was very choppy and inconsistent. It's unfortunate that instead of creating a credible battle at O'Rourke's Ford, Stirling had to copy the movie "Zulu". One thing I never understood about that is at the beginning of the battle, the Nantucket commanders were worried about the dead ground and how enemy mortars would play hell on their position, but there was no more mention after that. It seems inconceivable that as intelligent as Walker was (I liked the fact that there was a smart villain), he would not have supported a force of that size with some rudimentary artillery to reinforce the attack. Bear in mind that in the Bronze Age, a few thousand troops was actually a considerable force. The historic Battle of Kadesh, which Stirling mentions several times, is remembered primarily because it was a huge battle (about 20-25,000 men on each side, with lots of chariots). Relatively, this battle between the Hittites and the Egyptians would have been the equivalent to a modern day NATO-Warsaw Pact war.
Secondly, I was a bit perplexed concerning the Nantucket-Tartessos war. It seemed to me that Stirling ran into a problem of how the Alston "pincer plan" would work if Tartessos was not neutralized, and so created the surprise attack on Nantucket. But even this is somewhat farfetched. Isketerol is supposed to be some sort of genius, but launching a half-hearted attack (a few thousand second-class troops at that) on what would have been the technological superpower of the world at that time seems more ridiculous than brilliant, especially given the fact that it gave Nantucket the opportunity to put their pincer plan to work. No moral considerations are needed if you're attacked first.
I was also waiting for Isketerol to unveil some sort of strategy for fighting Nantucket after the war started and hinted several times about measures undertaken to ensure success. However, all that is shown is another half-hearted attack on Alston's naval force (of course the Farragut comes in the nick of time despite ridiculous damage caused by a storm). The gist of the Tartessian plan seemed to be to sit on the defensive and let the Nantucket military hammer away at them (a la Iraq). My point is that if Isketerol was as smart as Stirling attempted to portray him in the book (Alston thinks he's probably a genius), he would have either never went to war with Nantucket (thus forcing Nantucket to declare war for very dubious reasons) or would have thrown everything he had at Nantucket to start (which given how the invasion turned out in the book, probably would have been enough to conquer the island). All and all, the Tartessians, rather than being an interesting opponent, end up being a bunch of clowns who get smacked around at will (in Africa, Spain and yes even California). I'm not even going to comment on the California episode, other than it's highly unlikely that several Nantucketers with some Native Americans are going to annhilate a major Tartessian foothold in California.
Finally, I had a problem regarding combat involving chariots. It is true that chariots were huge in Bronze Age warfare, particularly in the Near East (they were essentially the elite troops of any army). However I question their usefulness in book 3. In Book 1, the Zarthani chariots are handled quite easily by the Nantucket troops. However, Mitanni chariots are just roaming the landscape at will in book 3 and causing all sorts of good ole fashioned havoc. This is patently absurd. The main reason why chariots were as effective as they were during the Bronze Age is because the weaponry was fairly crude. In an age were gunpowder was introduced, it would have been suicide to keep chariots as mainline combat units.
In fact, chariots lost their usefulness by the end of the Bronze Age. Alexander handled Darius' chariots quite easily at Gaugamela (which would have been roughly 1500 years later and 1200 years before the historical use of gunpowder) and he had just heavy pikemen and cavalry. Bottom line, Raupasha's Mitanni chariots would have been whittled down to nothing fairly quickly, I don't care how much small scale raiding they did.
Overall, I felt a bit let down. Given the first two books, I think Stirling could have written a better book, or even extended the trilogy to a fourth and/or fifth book.
Product Description
The complete series (6 books), published by various publishers between 1976 and 1995.
Book Description
Leanne Payne explains the basis of her counseling ministry-Christ's indwelling presence that brings the power of the incarnation into wounded lives.
Customer Reviews:
The Best Book on Healing a Hurting Heart with Intelligent Christianity.......2005-08-14
I've read at least eight or nine books on healing, forgiveness, recovering from pain caused by the self and other people, and Leanne Payne's book is by far the best one I've ever read!. I wish I had discovered it the year it was published!
A very balanced and bold book.......2001-11-19
I consider Leanne Payne's book Healing presence as an exceptionally good book. Because it has much truth, it divides opinions. That is the nature of truth. Some like,it some don't. While reading it, it especially struck me what she said about wrong fantasies, how they kill the real imagination and prevent us to be "fertilized with the reality" - this really hit me but because I accepted it, it set me free! All happened in an instant! Payne has great insight about what it means to be human, a created being, called to fullness, creativity and into all truth in Christ. Read it with prayer and apply it!
Wouldn't surprise me.......2001-08-05
I wouldn't be so quick, frankboteler, to discount the review by Sam below. I have seen so much hypocrisy in the ministry that nothing much would surprise me any more. Call me cynical, but I expect most ministers to be hypocrites. And even when they aren't, more often than not they're like bulls in a china shop when it comes to ministering to people. Maybe I'm wrong, but Sam's review sounds pretty believable and sincere to me, unlike some of the reviews for Crisis In Masculinity. It doesn't really sound like a personal attack, or something that somebody would just make up. I mean, if he was going to make the whole thing up, why would he have even bothered to say anything positive at all about her books? It sounds to me like somebody who is outraged and wants to tell the world about what happened to his friend. I agree with you, frankboteler, that it wasn't really a review of her book per se, but assuming his story is true (which I do believe it is), could you really blame him? I mean how else could you tell other people about something like that? Amazon.com sounds like as good a place as any.
I had a friend who met Gloria Copeland once, and she thought she was a complete ice cube. Apparently she was pretty different in person than the image she projected on TV, so that's one reason Sam's story doesn't surprise me much. And of course Benny Hinn has written some very good books, like Good Morning Holy Spirit, but all he seems to care about is money.
I was mainly just responding to what you wrote, frankboteler. I have read this book (The Healing Presence), but I think Crisis In Masculinity and The Broken Image are much better. Those two I would give 5 stars to. I would probably give HP 3 1/2 stars, but since you can't do that on Amazon, and since I don't think it was nearly as good as CIM and TBI, I'll go ahead and give it 3.
Don't trust personal attacks.......2001-07-29
Sam's so-called review of this book (see below) should not be trusted. I don't know whether or not he's telling the truth, and he does not give any solid information to go on. He doesn't say why his friend was suicidal, or what his letter contained, or exactly what Ms. Payne said in response. The Healing Presence is a profoundly insightful examination of such topics as the meaning of Christ's presence, true healing, Christian imagination, and the dangers of gnostic forms of spirituality common in the world today. Like her spiritual mentor C.S. Lewis, Leanne Payne cuts through the Protestant/Catholic divisions typical of most spiritual writers, and goes to the heart of true faith. This book is irreplaceable.
For those who've experienced healing through Christ.......2000-07-13
Only those who have experienced healing in Christ will fully appreciate Ms Payne's insight. For that reason alone, it cannot be counted as a how-to book. Also, it is generally acknowleged that Christ heals persons in vastly different ways. This book is primarily for those who have over-intellectualized their lives, who have experienced ill effects from the teachings of straight psychology, or who have found self-hood in their talent or art or personal beauty. I agree that more attention needs to be given to the more common long-term healing in addition to the rare instant miracle healing. Some of us have spiritual cancer rather than a spiritual broken bone.
Books:
- The Crimson Petal and the White
- The Dogs of Babel: A Novel
- The Enlightened Gardener: A Novel
- The Feast of Love: A Novel
- The Female of the Species: Tales of Mystery and Suspense
- The Final Solution: A Story of Detection (P.S.)
- The Flanders Panel
- The Franklin Affair: A Novel
- The French Lieutenant's Woman
- The Ginger Tree
Books Index
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