One Imperfect Christmas: a review
Was sent this to review.
Good cover.
Not a great start to the book… a few chapters in and I wondered if there was much point in reading on. In fact, I really wasn’t sure I could force myself to. If there isn’t a ‘desperate want or need’ in those first few pages then I find it v hard to read on. We’re presented with a perfect middle-class American christian family… which annoyed me no end. Then it transpires that grandma has had a stroke, which is a little bit interesting but not all that gripping. At this point I struggled to see what this book was really going to be about.
But it did get better… the ‘perfect’ family went to pot. I know this shouldn’t make me happy, and I hate couples splitting up and children getting hurt and all that… but at least it introduced some decent ‘conflict’ into the novel and we actually had something to get our teeth into.
Later on still I found myself slightly more interested in that the couple were a very similar age to us and had been married for just about as long AND had a daughter roughly the same age as ours! This meant I could relate to it all a bit more; it made me wonder what it would be like for us if one of our parents had a stroke and needed caring for, etc.
I was pleased to see that the ‘Christian’ bits weren’t too cringe-tastic and didn’t ruin the ‘flow’ of the book, as so often happens with christian fiction. I couldn’t say I was gripped by this book or that I’d particularly recommend it to someone, although I might if they had a parent who’d just had a stroke. I did like the way it didn’t end up too ‘happily ever after’ (in terms of both the couple getting back together and the mum with her stroke). I even shed a tear at the end when the Mum managed a little speech despite her stroke… and any book that can ‘move’ the reader has got to be given some credit, imho!
So, not that fab overall, but did make me think (re parents/strokes/marriage V career choices) due to the fact that I could relate to the protagonist, so not a total flop. A bit of humour wouldn’t have gone a miss.
February 9th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Thank you for your honest review of my novel. Not everyone will relate to the story or the characters at the same level, but I’m glad to know the ending touched your heart at least a little, and I do always appreciate feedback on my work.
February 10th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Ooooh. The phrase “Thank you for your honest review of my novel” made me wince a bit there.
If you’re up for more critting I’ve just posted a short story on my blog.
February 10th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
LOL, Jon–if people can’t be honest about how they react to a novel, then why bother writing a review! Good luck with your writing. I will save my critique time for my crit partner, if you don’t mind, and spare you (and me) any possibility of hard feelings.
February 10th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
Yes – I like to think that honesty is the way forward when it comes to reviewing books/films, etc! I have read many reviews of dearbob/lovejude… from people I’ve never met and have no reason to be biased either way. Many were good… some were a bit ‘iffy’… but I appreciated them all. If I disagreed with a point they were making, then I’m not offended anyway as I feel they’re mistaken (but I don’t feel any deep desire to point this out to them… why bother?!)… if I agree with a point they were making (and a couple of things did crop up) then I was glad to be able to use this info when doing any further writing, such as my current novel.
I was, believe it or not, very aware that Myra’s agent or publisher would read my review, seeing as I’d been sent a copy by them with the purpose of reviewing it. I thus figured that Myra herself may well see it too… I just didn’t think she see it quite so promptly!
I may be blunt, but a re-read of my review may reveal that I’m actually being quite complimentary too… listing several reasons why I enjoyed the book. There are many many books that I quite enjoy but don’t think are outstanding, and I’m quite willing to say so.
Anyway, I now realise that this reply is simply me trying to justify my reasons for the content of my review, which probably isn’t really necessary!
Jon – I’ll have a look at your short story sometime soon… I bet it’s SF and do remember that I know nothing about that genre!
Myra – thanks for your thanks (!)… I forgot to say that I was also pleased to read a novel set in the present day, seeing as sooooooooooo many Christian novels seem to be historical ones these days (starring the Plains people)… and, finally, I liked Natalie’s struggle with her faith – v believable.
February 10th, 2010 at 8:19 pm
Actually, Annie, your review came up on my Google Alerts–a very handy device for tracking my Internet footprints! No need at all to justify your review. I truly did notice the complimentary aspects of your comments and am very grateful. And if you like contemporary Christian fiction, you’ll find several in the new Abingdon Press Fiction line.
Also, I invite you to stop by Seekerville.blogspot.com sometime and check out our sisterhood of Christian authors. I can’t think of a single “Plains people” plot among them–LOL!!!
February 10th, 2010 at 8:51 pm
Fancy that… and I just assumed you were as sad as me and googled your name now and then to see what people were writing about you and/or your books!
Yes, I notice that Abingdon Press is a bit ‘out there’… including a recent novel about a recovering alcoholic. I am interested in whether or not this character is a Christian in the first place, or sobers up, then becomes a Christian. If it’s the former, then that really is a break away from CBA rules! And if so, then hurrah for that! And I thought the same about your novel… hoo-ray hoo-rah that your Christian characters are allowed to mess up!
I am particularly interested in what is and isn’t ‘allowed’ by mainstream Christian publishers in the States as I’d very much like to get my current novel ‘out there’ via one of them, but not too sure if it’s too ‘iffy’ for them. Perhaps there is hope… Abingdon Press does seem quite radical.
A fellow author-friend has written about this sort of stuff – here is a link. He is a lot more cleverer than wot i is… and has PhD, so probably best I let him have the final word! (I’m not sure if I agree with all of what he says as I’ve not even read it all, but it looks like the kind of thing I’m currently struggling with!)
http://www.bookofmorden.co.uk/essays/sexdeathchristian.html
February 10th, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Oh, my! Your writer friend certainly does have a lot to say on the subject! I’ve just barely skimmed the article and found myself overwhelmed!
Oh, yes, characters in today’s Christian fiction most certainly can “mess up.” I believe the Abingdon book you referred to is Walking on Broken Glass, by Christa Allan. I recently read it and found it riveting. The main character is struggling with alcoholism and marital issues after the death of her infant daughter, and her journey to recovery and return to faith is quite moving.
As for what is and isn’t allowed in mainstream Christian publishing, that answer is as varied as there are publishing houses. Some have a well-deserved reputation for being quite restrictive, while others are really pushing the envelope. The “conversion scene” as a requirement, as far as I can tell, has gone by the wayside with most publishers. Christians are real people, after all, who struggle and backslide and must rediscover their faith again and again and again. I know I certainly fit that description!
February 10th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
Oh, my! Your writer friend certainly does have a lot to say on the subject! I’ve just barely skimmed the article and found myself overwhelmed!
Oh, yes, characters in today’s Christian fiction most certainly can “mess up.” I believe the Abingdon book you referred to is Walking on Broken Glass, by Christa Allan. I recently read it and found it riveting. The main character is struggling with alcoholism and marital issues after the death of her infant daughter, and her journey to recovery and return to faith is quite moving.
As for what is and isn’t allowed in mainstream Christian publishing, that answer is as varied as there are publishing houses. Some have a well-deserved reputation for being quite restrictive, while others are really pushing the envelope. The “conversion scene” as a requirement, as far as I can tell, has gone by the wayside with most publishers. Christians are real people, after all, who struggle and backslide and must rediscover their faith again and again and again. I know I certainly fit that description!
February 10th, 2010 at 11:08 pm
I tried to leave a reply earlier, but your blog program decided it was spam and wouldn’t let it through. Must shut down the computer for today but may try again later. Very interesting discussion!
February 11th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Sorry about that… this blog (which clearly has a mind of its own, even though its creator is my husband!) decided that your most recent message was spam, and then proceeded to delete it AND all your other messages, which it also presumed to be spam.
Whoops!
At least that explains the mystery of the missing comments!
Yes, interesting discussion… I agree!
February 11th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Whew!!! Glad to know it wasn’t something I said! Although technically it probably was since your spam filter didn’t like it! Guess we’ll never know for sure.
February 16th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
Hi
Just to say my comment regarding critting was for Annie. No offence, Myra. Although if you did swing by and take a look you’d be welcome. It’s a couple of posts down now.
Annie, brace yourself, it’s *not* science fiction.