Some of River's Best Work

books:


	• Unafraid: Mary (The Lineage of Grace Series #5) Francine Rivers Tyndale House Publishers, 2001 - 224 pages average customer review:based on 25 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

Creates a great picture

This is a great speculation on what Mary's life might have been like. It sticks to scripture but helps us to see life as it may have been. Very enjoyable and encouraging.

Some of River's Best Work

I've not read all of the Christian fiction books written by Francine Rivers, but of the dozen or so books that I have read, I believe this is her best work, not necessarily from a literary standpoint, but rather from a Christian one. UNAFRAID, which examines the life of Mary, is the last in a five part Lineage of Grace series where Rivers examines the lives of five remarkable women chosen by God for the lineage of our Lord.

The first half of this book is as much about Joseph and his dedicated faith as it is about Mary, but the second half occurs after Joseph's death and focuses almost entirely on some of what Mary must have endured being chosen by God to bare the Messiah.

I don't know if it was River's intention to so accurately present many of the lessons Mary would have to come to terms with in her life, but she presents them flawlessly. For example, we see as Mary somewhat grudgingly comes to know that Jesus is not her son, but rather is and has always been, the Son of God. Through her other children, she learns to accept that Jesus is not the person He is because of who and what Mary and Joseph were, but rather because of what God is.

At Joseph's death, we see Jesus display His knowledge of the contrast between the treasure of His deity and the sacrifice of its function. We see Mary struggle to understand and come to terms with the hypostatic union of the God-Man, not yet understanding that the Incarnate Christ had to limit his omnipotence in order to submit His will to the will of God the Father.

Most interesting here is that Rivers never fails to show Mary's position as a mother to her children. Rivers doesn't attempt to show Mary as supreme being, giving equally to all her children, but rather openly shows her partiality to what she knows, and hastens to expose, as the Messiah. What mother wouldn't hold this child in highest regard over mere human children with their constant displays of negative volition?

This has been an exceptional series of stories and this one in particular has been most enjoyable. My only disappointment here lies in the brevity. All of these novellas in this series are limited to less than 200 pages. They could have easily been twice that. Nonetheless, the brevity makes this a great "snow day" read.

Pastor Monty Rainey

for more information click here

Disappointing

I read the entire Lineage of Grace series and was thrilled with the other books, but this one was disappointing. I am a protestant and do not believe that Mary was sinless, but Francine Rivers made Mary out to be a complaining, and pushy mother. It is interesting that the author did not dwell on the sins of the other women in the series, eventhough we know that they were sinners. But, she chose to dwell on Mary's sins. I believe she was trying to make a point, which I agree with, but she took it too far.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Mary is one of the most revered women in history, but she was an ordinary woman striving to please God in the same way that women still do today. Readers are sure to gain a new appreciation of the familiar story through Francine's signature style. A study on the biblical text is included for personal or group study.

for more information click here