Suche books:   



Grace at Bender Springs: A Novel
Vinita Hampton Wright

B&H Publishing Group, 1999 - 399 pages

average customer review:based on 7 reviews
view larger image
 for more information click here

   highly recommended  highly recommended




Something Grand and Sacred

This book begins as a haunting portrayal of desperation, but then moves---a surprising lift---into something grand and sacred and, by the end of the book, fully whole.

Wright's book is a shining path through daily life---its intricacies, its secret dreams, and its momentous recoveries. BRAVO.


lots of sexual tension

I read a review about this book and author in Christianity Today, and the review stated that this author takes Christian fiction to a new level because she does not make the Christian characters perfect and the non-Christian characters evil, as is often the case in Christian fiction. I found the book to be very interesting, but I did not appreciate the level of sexual tension that went on throughout the book. While the author did not go into detail about the sex lives of her characters, throughout the book she kept letting you know that Randy and Dave were having sex, and Tony wanted to with Lena, and then Dave did with Lena even though he was living with Randy, and that Sarah and Jacob weren't having much lately. I thought all of that was a bit much for being considered "Christian" fiction. While she seemed to describe a genuine conversion in Randy, I felt she was almost mocking the "conversion" of Mamie when she prayed the sinner's prayer while wondering if the neighbor's dog was pooping in her yard again. While I'm sure that kind of thing happens, I felt she was poking more fun at the attempt to lead someone to the Lord than to Mamie for being so distracted during such a serious moment. These things caused me some disappointment with a book that received such high reviews here.


 for more information click here









 for more information click here


like no Christian fiction I've ever read

This is the first book I've read by Vinita Hampton Wright, and I only searched it out because it was recommended by Lauren Winner, author of the memoir "Girl Meets God", which was marvelous. All through "Grace At Bender Springs" I kept wondering what was going to happen and where the author was going with this very meandering yet deep glimpse into several peoples' lives in Bender Springs. This book is honest, not tidy, shocking at times and heart-warming. The author's ability with character development is amazing - I found myself caring so deeply about even the people who weren't lovable. The sovereignty of a loving God and how He watches over His children is woven throughout, and I will give this book to reading friends. As I turned the last page and sat in silence, pondering what I'd read, I marveled at the way Vinita Hampton Wright wrote God's grace into each character and chapter, but in ways you can't find in current, fluffy, tied-up-with-a-bow Christian fiction. I will start another book of hers tonight.


 for more information click here






A Leisurely Read

I read the author's second novel, Velma Still Cooks in Leeway, first and enjoyed it more than this one. The character development was a strong point, though I wished things would have moved along a bit faster. But maybe that's just how things go in a slow-paced, small town. Realistic portrayal of saints and sinners but I felt very much on the outside and didn't really care very much about them. A good writer though and her second novel shows the kind of things I missed in this one.


Renewed in the springs!

Wright's characters capture you as eagerly turn each and every page, anxiously fretting along with them as they journey to find the graces that will quench their spiritual thirsts. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. The juxtaposition of Bender Springs' past with its present was flawlessly written! Though not an epic, the finely-detailed characters and the author's attention to detail are reminiscient of Leon Uris'Trinity. The human weaknesses of the characters remind me of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and Wright makes no apologies for the humanity of her characters. This book should be made into a movie, but one wonders what the film industry would do to its essence of life.


 for more information click here


reviews: page 1, 2



hot or not?    What's your opinion?     Write a review and share your thoughts!



recommendations

My Favorite Books With CLERGY Characters
Contemporary Literature: Wishlist #2




grace

Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy
Grace: A Novel
A Thread of Grace
Patriotic Grace: What It Is and Why We Need It Now
Grace for President



novel

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle: A Novel (Oprah Book Club #62)
The Brass Verdict: A Novel
The Host: A Novel
The White Tiger: A Novel (Man Booker Prize)
Watchmen



search for books
grace at bender, bender, grace, novel, springs


Impressum / about us


Suche books: