| Title | : | Riven |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 141430904X |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781414309040 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 526 |
| Publication | : | First published February 1, 2003 |
Riven Reviews
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When an author calls a book "the novel I have always wanted to write" I sit up and take notice. And when the author is Jerry B. Jenkins, and the novel is his 175th book, I know I'm going to read something special. Such is the case with Riven. Its premise is simple and dynamic: a condemned inmate requests his execution be in the form of crucifixion. At first we don't know why or the circumstances leading up to his death-row status, but we certainly want to. Most of the book covers the 17 years of the inmate's life up to this point.
Jerry B. Jenkins has a way of immediately drawing you into a story. From our first introduction to Brady Wayne Darby, a rebellious teen who hates his trailer-park life, we care about him. How will he play the cards he's been dealt? Will he throw a chance at a better life away or take it before it's too late? By the hints we're given, we can imagine his fate, but it doesn't lessen the impact of his story. We're compelled to travel the journey with him as he grows from a troubled boy to a troubled man.
Trading scenes with Brady is Thomas Carey, a pastor who's been unjustly fired from his church and is trying to decide his calling. This isn't the first time he's been mistreated, but through it all he's maintained his trust in the Lord and His plan. Until now. Why does it seem everything goes wrong when all He's trying to do is please God? And why has his only daughter strayed so far from her faith?
From Riven's first chapter we guess Brady will be the one who commits the crime, but we don't know the victim or the hows and whys. It's this unknown that kept me turning pages. When would Brady fall? Was there any chance it wasn't him and someone else was the death row inmate described in the opening?
Reading Riven is like watching a tight, well-scripted movie. The short, dialogue heavy scenes keep up the suspense and reader interest. You might need to muster up a little discipline to read the complete texts of numerous classic hymns found in Riven's pages, but they're in there for a reason so even if you're tempted like I was, try not to skip over them. Ultimately, Riven is a novel that'll keep you awake `til two promising yourself over and over that you'll just read "one more chapter". Even though the intensity ebs and flows throughout the story, it never really lets up.
Like his novel Though None Go With Me, Jenkins shows us years in a character's life rather than days or weeks, but the story never suffers for this. Following Brady through most of his life and seeing how many of his bad choices were simply a result of his horrible upbringing gives us compassion for others like him.
The characters of Riven are real, the concept unique, but I daresay it's the message that will stay with readers long after they close the covers. Jenkins was inspired to write the story over twenty years ago when he studied a crucifix at a Catholic retreat center, and it's clear the Cross is the crux, so to speak, of this inspiring novel. How often have we stuffed our Christianity into a convenient little box and forgotten how much Jesus bore to redeem us? Riven shines light on the reason for our faith---the sacrifice at calvary. And we see the power that message has to change lives . . . even lives some would say are unredeemable.
"The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
Mel Gibson's The Passion showed us the reality of the cross; Riven shows us the humanity. -
I’ve read at least ten of Jerry Jenkins novels. Riven is by far the best.
If you wonder what the connection between the two major players in this book is all about hang in until the end.
It is a beautifully written book. If you went to see The Passion of The Christ you will appreciate this novel. -
This review comes courtesy of the actual reader, my mother, Vivian Hoy, who approaches the story from her eighty-eighth year of life.
"Riven covers a 12 year period and introduces us to two main characters:
1. Pastor Thomas a committed servant of God but one without the necessary gifts to maintain an effective ministry. He is let go from one ministry position after another because he couldn't entertain well enough. (He reminds me of so many dedicated men of God struggling without a pulpit presence to serve God.)
2. Brady, a teenager, the product of a dysfunctional broken home.
In spite of a failed ministry, Thomas remains true to his calling. Brady graduates from petty thief to career criminal and murderer.
Riven contains a story within the two obvious stories. Jenkins provides the reader with a picture of grace working over time within the lives of the two main characters. As interesting as those lives are, it is this second, deeper story line that drives home the emotional power of Riven. Thus, while we are led to focus on Thomas's uneventful and unfruitful life as a pastor, we are shown snapshots of the fruits of the spirit as they are being brought forth in his character and disposition. Love, patience and faith remain steadfast throughout his humdrum job. As Brady grows, his unchecked emotions and uncanny knack for self preservation drive him to manhood. When these two eventually meet and interact, we are privileged to see how in each life God's grace had always been there as a part of their experiences.
The story begins on a low key. I felt Riven was discouraging but interesting enough as it fleshed out nine years of these characters' lives. In the middle of the story, there is a shift in pace as we move beyond foundational characterizations. we begin to see a ray of hope for Brady and a deeper and depressing awareness by Thomas of how little he has accomplished as a pastor for his flock. From here, the tempo increases and in the second half of the book, the story within a story comes into full view for the reader.
The ending is sudden and unexpected-I didn't see it coming. As that ending unfolds, it is quite spectacular and will leave you in a pensive mood."
Now, I guess it's going to be my turn to read this book. I'm almost done reading HPVII again and, when I can sneak away from rock wall building, I will do son. -
This book goes onto my "Important" Bookshelf, which takes some earning from me. Written from a humble, completely non-judgemental, sensitive stance, it offers the reader a chance to grow in love and empathy for folks born into poverty and pressured into drugs and crime - and yet the author does a great job of making personal responsibility clear, without any hint of preachiness. I also am deeply grateful to Mr. Jenkins for his right-on-the-mark presentation of what being a Christian truly is, that is, "a sinner who believes in and puts his/her trust in Jesus", rather than "someone who is good / religious". We can't have enough clarity on this central and crucial doctrinal point, on which American Christianity has largely failed. If I must offer a criticism, I'd say that I can see why some feel that the first 2/3 of the book was a bit slow, but I actually liked the pace very much. (I listened to this book on Audible.) This story made me weep and touched me deeply, and I will never forget it or its characters. Recommended highly.
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This is a story that will stay with me for a long time. The characters truly came to life and are people that I think about often. The book follows Brady, a young man who grows up in a trailer park with a neglectful mother and no father and Thomas, a pastor who struggles to find his place in serving God. Throughout the book you follow these 2 men as they both struggle in different ways until the time comes where their paths intersect.
This book is over 500 pages but not once did I feel like it was slow or lagging. I was interested in the story with every page that I read. It spans many years and the character development is extremely well done.
There are some gritty scenes in the book but the content is clean overall. I highly recommend this book to readers. It was amazing and one of my all time favorites! -
I was intrigued by this book and the ideas that the author brought forth, but it's not an enjoyable story. A young man repeatedly gets into trouble and ends up in prison. He has a horrible excuse for a mother, no father in his life, loses his younger brother in death because of his fault.
The other character is a pastor who has a wonderful wife and is devoted to serving the Lord but nothing has ever gone right in his life. His daughter has no interest in God and every church that he pastors ends up letting him go. He becomes a prison chaplain and meets Brady, the young man and they form a bond. To tell you the rest would spoil it but it is a good book. -
This an excellent novel. There are two story lines that converge. The first is about a pastor that has pastored several small churches. If you know of someone like this you will relate to him. This pastor is gentle and taken advantage of in most of the churches. He eventually becomes a chaplain at a very secure prison. The other story line involves a young boy that grows up in a single parent home. He has many talents but decides to live the life of crime. Both the pastor and young boy experience the great gift of redemption by the end of the book. The book title is take from the song, "Rock of Ages." The lyrics are below"
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.
Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone,
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress,
Helpless, look to Thee for grace:
Foul, I to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
Also one of the many Scripture passages quoted is "Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.'”
Another song quoted in the book is the following:
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
If you enjoy Christian fiction you will love this book. It is long (526 pages) but is excellent! -
While this story was interesting enough to keep my attention until I finished the book, I do not care too much for Jenkins's style of writing; I find it rather pedestrian. He did a fair job of developing the characters while telling a story that was true-to-life, even though at times I was frustrated by the starkness of one of the main character's old-fashionedness - and I thought I was old-fashioned. I say that the story was true-to-life, and I think that is true until the last several chapters. I will not give the ending away, but the way the story was going I guessed the "big ending" and was still surprised because when I suspicioned the ending, I thought to myself, "No, surely that is too ridiculous," but apparently it was not for Jenkins. If I say anymore I will give too much away for those who might read this and actually be intrigued enough to read the book. I will just say that this book is a lot like a Hallmark or Lifetime movie, so if you like those, you will probably enjoy Riven.
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There is only one word to describe how I feel after reading this book. Humbled. I am a born again Christian and have been since I was a young child. I don't know what is it like to be otherwise. Perhaps that is what compelled me to read this book. I have always been fascinated with the lives of "bad guys", wanting to suffer with them and rejoice when they are headed the right way.
This book was amazing account on a life that went wrong the 90% of the time, and right the last 10%. *spoilers ahead* It would be so miraculous if someone actually got to know the Lord on death row and wanted to die the way Jesus did. At first I thought that was a little over the top, especially when the whole world got involved, but after I finished reading, I started to wonder if maybe it would be that way. As far as I know, that has never happened before.
Jerry Jenkins knows how to write a great Christian fiction. I hope he has reached people for Jesus with this one. -
I really liked MOST of this book. The story kept me turning pages. But the ending was so unbelievable that it just flopped for me. I literally got to the last 50 pages, saw what was coming, and put it down for a week before finishing. I get what he was going for, but just too far fetched. And a bad ending just taints the rest of the book for me.
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The first three quarters of the book made it seem like a compelling story with nuanced characters and the last quarter became quite unbelievable, cliche and depressing. I can't say as I feel like I'm better for having read this book.
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Jerry Jenkins writes from his heart a unique and engaging story. Riven is touching and unforgettable.
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Wow what a great book! Loved the message.
A book I kept wanting to pick up to finish. -
I downloaded a free copy of this for my e-reader.
This book follows the story of two different people. The first is Thomas, a preacher who has bounced from congregation to congregation. He's down on his luck, but his faith keeps him going, until he lands a job at a maximum security prison. The job isn't very fulfilling, as forms have to be filled out before a con can even speak with him, and those that bother generally want favors from him, or want to get something out of it. On the flip side is Brady, a down-on-his-luck kid living with his alcohol, abusive mother and and his little brother, Peter.
It's easy to see where this story is going, though it takes a while to get there. The plot is slow and meandering. During Brady's scenes, I didn't really care, because I really liked the kid and I wanted to cheer for him, though it was easy to see where he would end up. At first, I was also interested in Thomas' chapters, but once he landed at the prison, they got pretty boring. No one wanted his help, and most of the scenes were about his wife and her battle with leukemia, as well as his daughter and her lack of faith.
Once Brady finally ends up in the same maximum security prison as Thomas, the plot takes a sharp turn into the realm of truly unbelievable...even for a Christian book. For one thing, most Christian books annoy me, just due to the large amount of preaching, and this book has a lot -- more than any other book I've ever read in fact. There are whole pages of sermons and hymns. In fact, after the third or fourth hymn, I started skipping them. I almost did the same with the Bible quotes, but I didn't want to miss anything important...I needn't have bothered. The quotes were just large sermons, stripped straight from the Bible. Boring.
My suspension of belief could only stretch so far.
In the end, I had to give this book three stars, because there were parts that I enjoyed, just as much as there were parts I hated. I always believe that a book would be better without dragging so much religion into it -- as I said, I really liked Brady as a character and the struggles he endured. -
This is the very best part of having a Kindle: finding absolutely fantastic books like this, for free.
So, this isn't a short novel, nor a particularly quick read, but I finished it in less than 24 hours; I was unable to tear myself away from it. For most of the novel, there really seems like no reason I should be so attached. The story is about two very different people, neither of which is particularly like me, yet Jenkins does such a great job making me believe these characters that I really start to feel for them.
Brady repeatedly makes bad decisions with his life. Somehow, though, Jenkins writes the novel in such a way that instead of me becoming really annoyed with him (which is not uncommon for me when reading) I only become somewhat annoyed with him but even more just willing him to do something right and wanting to be there to help him work things out for himself. I cheer when things go right for him; I ache to help him when he starts doing things wrong.
Thomas just keeps plugging along with his life, though it seems like it would be hard to do. Unlike Brady who has all sorts of opportunities and actively wastes them, Thomas frequently does the best with what he has and bad things just keep showing themselves. As I read I keep wishing that things will work out for him and admire his tenacity and belief. Despite being inexhaustibly optimistic and idealistic in the worst of situations, Jenkins writes the character's thoughts in such a way that I believe him totally and don't just think it's easy to be so positive as an author writing a book.
Maybe I was just feeling particularly soppy the day that I read this book, but I was immersed and invested completely. As the story progresses and their two stories intertwine, this book got to me. Ultimately, it's a story of conversion to Christianity and how belief can come in the most unlikely of places to do the most powerful of things. Some Christian novels I've read are just blatant and cheesy in it; this one, well, it kind of is too, but it worked for me. I found the story and the writing to be very powerful. Despite these characters being in a rather extreme environment, this story spoke to my life. I cried, a lot.
I'm likely going to read this novel again someday, and it'll be interesting to see then if I still find it as strong, but in the meantime, if you read it and really don't think it was that great or worth crying over, don't tell me. -
I'm somewhat ambivalent about this novel. The writing was adequate, and a fair amount of the story was predictable. I was drawn to the characters, liking some, disliking some, feeling empathy for a few, and that was probably the biggest draw for me, and has kept me thinking about it for quite awhile after I finished reading. I have to admit, though, that the storyline became compelling, if somewhat fantastical, and that may be part of why I'm still thinking about it.
The novel tells the story of two families, written in parallel for approximately two-thirds or more of the book. One family is comprised of a pastor and his wife, and their daughter who has fallen away from God and faith, in part because of how her parents are treated as her dad is forced to move from congregation to congregation for work (the author never states a religious affiliation, just a non-denominational faith-based system). Reverend Tom didn't have the gift of oration, but he had great faith and a desire to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord; his wife was practically a saint, at times causing me to marvel and others to say, "Oh, get real! No one is that perfect." Tom is pretty believable. In the end Tom becomes a prison minister in a supermax prison. Enter our other main character.
Brady grew up with a single mom, who spent her time drunk, high, with a different man all the time, and abusing his little brother when she did make it back to their trailer park home. He was essentially a good kid, but he consistently made bad choices, and eventually ended up in - you guessed it - the supermax on death row.
Throughout the book the author quotes scripture (although danged if I could figure out which translation he was using), and applies gospel principles to events that unfold. And here I had a problem: he believed in faith without works, once-saved-always-saved, and a number of other doctrinal beliefs that I don't. I am confused because I've never before had a problem reading something that espoused beliefs different from my own. Anyway, I won't summarize the rest because it would be a major spoiler.
If you have the time, it's worth the read. I got some things out of it, but that may be just me. I'd be curious to see what others think of this book. -
unabridged audio from audible.com
Brady covers up one lie with another as easy as ice cream sliding off a cone. He steals, does drugs and deals them, quits school at 16 when things don't go his way. Thinks things will be better living with a group of drinking Spanish guys who work for the same company he works for than living at home with his partying mom. She'd better not lay a hand on his little brother though, he threatens over and over.
Meanwhile Thomas accepts a position as chaplain for a very high security prison, allowing him regular time with his wife instead of being a church pastor with everyone making demands on him. His wife Grace is very supportive of him. She's been getting bruises that take a long time in healing. Sleeping a lot too - soundly. Thomas prays hard for a man on death row who call himself "Deacon." Deac wants nothing to do with salvation or things of The Lord. He asks Thomas to be there at his hanging to which Thomas reluctantly agrees. He tells Thomas not to bring his bible or tell him about God. When Deac is hung without accepting Jesus, Thomas can't understand why God let that happen but pretends to not be upset with God. I mean how can he be upset with God who gave his Son to die for his sins? And don't we all deserve what Deac got?
The characters are very well developed.
Thomas' goal is to win people to the Lord. If the inmates don't want prayer or to hear about God, he doesn't want to be bothered. He'd do well to show people he cares before trying to reel them in.
While the first part of the story is well-done, the second part (perhaps a third of it) should be considered an evangelistic tool with many bible verses being quoted. It becomes stagnant at this point as though the author's aim was to win souls to the Lord and then preach to the reader. It's a platform for a preacher, and because of this, the number of stars drop from a 4 or 5 to a 2. Tough luck, Jenkins. Not even a Christian wants to be brow-beaten, and if I wanted anywhere close to that much bible-reading, I would do it myself. -
Since I didn't read the blurb about this one and just judged it by its cover, I had no idea it was Christian literature. This became very obvious in Brady's later years. I am not a religious person by any stretch of the imagination, so there many places when scripture was quoted that turned me off a bit, however, I understand how they were essential to the story.
The story begins with two very different lives moving along two very different paths in life. Brady is a young teenage boy who lives with his alcoholic abusive mother and his younger brother Petey. He hates school but comes to find that drama is the place in life he lives for. He has a part time job or two, gets mixed up in some criminal behavior, drops out of school and finds himself in out of juvenile hall and then prison. In Part Two, we find he is sent back to prison where all he wants to do us die. Until a preacher gives him some insight as to how he can live with himself and his deeds.
That preacher ends up being the second life we follow. Thomas has moved from parish to parish with his wife, who seems to be ailing from a sickness she doesn't want diagnosed. No matter how hard Thomas tries, he can't seem to please any of the parishioners for an extended period of time. Until he finds as a last resort that a prison is in need of a new chaplain. This prison is where Brady Darby ends up.
There are many secondary characters that are integral to the story: Brady's brother Petey, his mother Erline, his first true live after his teens Katey, Thomas's daughter and son-in-law Revinia and Dirk, and his ailing wife. And who can forget the big man of the jailhouse: Yanno. I admit, I cried at the end. Not sure if it was because I was sad or if I found the miracles that occurred astounding. For a book on religion, it sure was a good one. -
Brady is a young man full of potential. But even considering the broken home and underprivileged background he comes from, he proves to be his own worst enemy. And he’ll one day cross paths with Thomas, a chaplain who feels he’s got very little good to show for all of his years of ministry.
Author Jerry B. Jenkins says that Riven is his life’s work, the novel he’s always wanted to write. So I approached this novel all the more seriously.
Although it’s darker and a lot more depressing than my usual reading preference, and I found much of it to be predictable, the story still kept me interested through most of its 500+ pages. I’ll admit I didn’t always find the characters or the plot to be the most convincing, and the way the story rushes over some crucial years is unfortunate. There are also key areas of the story that I couldn’t get with—theologically, politically (though I almost hate to use that word, due to its tendency to minimize critical matters affecting humanity), and just as a reader of fiction.
Nonetheless, I have to applaud the intense and risky route the author takes to get an earnest message across, and the way he does it is ultimately powerful. I do think a reader has to be good with highly evangelistic, Christian material to enjoy this book, so if you have an appreciation for “the greatest story ever told,” this novel may very well hit you where you live. -
Another free kindle download.
I found this book to be very slow at first setting up the lives of the two main characters and how they meet. Frankly I was bored with the minister and his life but found the realism of Brady's life compelling. Once the minister started to work in the prison system was I more interested in his life. Maybe because my husband works in a prison I found this to be interesting.
As much as I enjoyed the book I am very ambivalent about the ending. Yes it made me weep but sometimes that is not a good thing. Maybe because I know this would never happen it made it less believable to me. I liked how Brady did turn around his thinking, I could see that happening, and for all intents and purposes I would have been satisfied with the book without they way it concluded.
I can say it is a book that will make any Christian think not only about Christ and his role as our Savior and Redeemer, but how do we sound to those around us. I have to say if the world sees Christians in the light as I was reading some of the statements and judgments no wonder we are not viewed in a positive nature but many people in the world. -
The book was extremely well written. It's not a tear-jerker as I expected it to be. But just a story about two men's lives and how they intertwine. One a criminal and one a minister. Even as the criminal, Brady, kept screwing up over and over again, I was never disgusted or even disappointed, it just seemed inevitable. There were a few places in the book that seemed unbelievable, hence the four stars. But the only instance that really bothered me was the search and arrest after the tornado. I just didn't think the cops would have time to mess with somebody trying to get their car out the ditch, when they were busy rescuing survivors. I also didn't think the halfway house couple would have condoned the romance between Brady and the girl. She was an addict too and they said in the beginning that it would never work.
Plot spoiler: In the end as Brady was hanging on the cross, I felt the author sort of glossed over that. The whole reason for the book was because Brady wanted to die by crucifixion and then it was pretty much summed up in a few sentences. The ending was too fast. -
This fictional work engages topics as varied as the death penalty, children wandering from their parent's faith, poverty and the cycle of violence, prison ministry, criminal justice, burnout, disappointment, faithfulness and redemption.
The only difficulty I had was the way the novel was packaged. The flap summary and introduction lead me to believe the crime would occur at the BEGINNING of the work, but Jenkins has something far more intricate to depict. Rather than being about a single event, the book covers 15+ years in the lives of two male lead characters. I think I would have settled in to appreciate the richness of the earlier chapters had I known the author's endeavor.
An excellent read. Recommended for all who like good fiction. Many men don't enjoy fiction, but with strong male leads, I think this work would engage both women and men. -
When I first started this book, I had great expectations. I love Jerry Jenkins' writing. However, the first part of the book seemed to go on forever. It wasn't until the two stories finally converged that it started getting really good. The end totally caught me by surprise and, yes, I cried. He painted such a good word picture.
I will say that there seemed to be some too-good-to-be-true moments and I wondered if there really are happy endings like he describes. The Christian life isn't always pretty and Christians don't always make the right choices, but some of the characters seemed incapable of sinning. They, instead, chose to beat themselves up over imagined sins. It really sets the bar high for the rest of us.
Overall, it was a good read. I could have done without some of the tedious details and repetitiveness of some of the situations, but I would definitely recommend it. -
What a great story about two lives coming together. One a pastor, who has been faithful but has not see the fruit of his faithfulness but trusts that God is faithful. He goes thru depression and all the feelings of how long Lord! The other is about Brady all thru his teenage years he has been a goof off, only doing what he wants to do. His mother is a single mother who has her own problems and pretty much leaves her two sons to fend for themselves. Both of these characters were well developed in this story that was very real and emotional. I related very much so to both of these characters. The story will leave you with many emotions and also guide you to truth about Jesus our Saviour and Redeemer. I loved how hymns were used to show the majesty of God. Jenkins does well in this story and it shows what a heart felt message he wanted to share thru these characters.
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Jerry you owe me 3 boxes of tissues. Great story. The interesting thing is that I only had tears during all the happy parts.
I'm not sure if anyone but Christians will appreciate this story. I hope so, but doubt it.
This story made me reflect on my life and what made me the person I am today. I could of ended up a drug dealer and in prison if not for a good Mother, and some grace from the education and work system. Sometimes attempting to endlessly teach someone the right thing can push them too far, as we witnessed here.
I'm glad I chose NOT to be a pastor. If its anything like this guy went through I'd be shooting church people weekly. Maybe that would make a good sequel to this book. -
Riven was an amazing book! I had never read a Jerry B Jenkins novel before Riven & did not know what to expect but Riven blew my mind. I won't divulge anything that might be spoilers but because of some themes in the book like drugs and violence isn't suitable for all ages but any mature person should definitely read this book! I am not ashamed to say the this is the one book that caused me to weep openly as I read the dramatic conclusion! This has easily made it to my list of all time favorite books!
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5 for 5 on the free kindle books being Christian. This one bordered on sacrilege at the end for me. A little offended and if I didn't just have to finish a book, I wouldn't have finished this one. Kudos to the author for putting his faith out there.
