book review: Redeeming Love...

um.

okay.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

perhaps i had too high of expectations?

i had heard that this was THE BOOK for Christian women.

the best work of fiction in this genre.

life altering.

it wasn't.

i DID like it.

i thought it was well written,

an interesting retelling of a familiar Biblical story of Gomer and Hosea.

it was good.

i'm glad i read it.

but i should have borrowed it,

not went out and bought it.

it was...

disturbing.

hard to read.

(not hard to read literally, but emotionally)

the characters frustrated me continually.

i've heard this book brings healing to many.

i can see that.

if someone had led a particular life style,

or had been through sexual assault,

i can see where this book may have helped bring healing.

now i'm not trying to sound 'holier than thou', but i must be honest.

if the woman reading this came from a sexually pure background,

and without the horrid back ground of sexual wounds,

this book was simply sickening.

i truly felt like vomiting in parts.

maybe my heart is too tender?

not tender enough?

i don't know.

***Spoiler in red!***

i just know that while i thought Sarah's character was admirable and was cheering for her redemption,

i also wanted to shake her out of her bubble a few times.

and Michael? great man of course,

though i thought his most heartless act was consummating their marriage when she clearly was not ready to give heart and soul.

i thought this was a selfish act.

i wanted to kick him.

but it probably would have looked strange sitting on the lake shore  kicking my book.

i liked the book.

but i in no way felt it was one of my favorites ever.

i'm giving it *** and 1/2 stars.
i'd fully recommend it with the exception of the whole sin this book is based upon.
if your heart is prepared to read some hard yuckiness in the world, then you'll be better prepared.
i had no idea.

God Bless,

Mandy

eta: i should have added that while the details were nauseating, i very much appreciate this authors frankness in dealing with sexual temptation and sin.
too many Christian authors sugar coat or simply ignore these things to make it more pure.  Mrs. rivers did not, and i think that put a much more genuine realism into her book.
i should also add, that my favorite (VERY unchristian) book of all time also makes me sick in parts. Outlander. i DO NOT recommend my favorite series ever.  how's that for honesty ;)
there were aspects that truly gave me  nightmares that i will, knowingly, skip over upon my next reading of it.