This was my first book to read by Pam Rhodes. I have a mixed review. The story centers around an Anglican priest who joins his previous and new church members on a cruise that highlights historic religious locations.
I had a lot of trouble getting into parts of the story. There were far too many characters, and I had difficulty keeping them straight, even with the list of their names and descriptions at the front of the book. It was not until the middle of the book that I was able to keep them straight. Also, the accounts of the special sites they visited on their tours, did not interest me.
Don't get me wrong, the book was well written. In spite of a very large character cast, I enjoyed the glimpses into their personal lives and struggles. There was a wonderfully board representation of the varied personalities people possess and how they interact or in some cases clash when put together. All of them had different reasons for taking the cruise. There was humor, sadness, personal discovery and even tragedy scattered throughout. I found it true to life and very interesting how the characters appeared one way in public, careful to hide actual problems and emotions from their fellow shipmates. I reminder that we have no clue what others are facing their private lives. I thought it was very clever of the author to cast herself as a character using her real name and doing what she does in real life!
I received this book at no charge from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
I had a lot of trouble getting into parts of the story. There were far too many characters, and I had difficulty keeping them straight, even with the list of their names and descriptions at the front of the book. It was not until the middle of the book that I was able to keep them straight. Also, the accounts of the special sites they visited on their tours, did not interest me.
Don't get me wrong, the book was well written. In spite of a very large character cast, I enjoyed the glimpses into their personal lives and struggles. There was a wonderfully board representation of the varied personalities people possess and how they interact or in some cases clash when put together. All of them had different reasons for taking the cruise. There was humor, sadness, personal discovery and even tragedy scattered throughout. I found it true to life and very interesting how the characters appeared one way in public, careful to hide actual problems and emotions from their fellow shipmates. I reminder that we have no clue what others are facing their private lives. I thought it was very clever of the author to cast herself as a character using her real name and doing what she does in real life!
I received this book at no charge from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
SALLY W. (thameslink) -
As the final book in âThe Dunbridge Chronicles' series, it is both a mostly satisfying end to the series and the weakest book in what I found to be a very satisfying series. I would not recommend reading this book as a standalone, the huge cast of characters gathered from the previous three books can be confusing without knowing their back stories.
If you enjoy books in the same vein as Jan Karon's Mitford series I recommend this charming series set in the English countryside.
If you enjoy books in the same vein as Jan Karon's Mitford series I recommend this charming series set in the English countryside.
Carole J. (PianoLady357) reviewed Saints and Sailors (The Dunbridge Chronicles) on + 157 more book reviews
Let me begin by saying that I am a huge fan of British fiction with its small-town settings and quirky characters. Pam is an excellent writer and has created a series that I've come to enjoy overall.
The theme of Saints and Sailors is so much fun church members from Neil's current church and his previous one coming together for a Christian cruise around the British Isles, tracing the footsteps of ancient Celtic saints who represent the cradle of Christianity in England. It was wonderful to visit places like Lindisfarne, the Isle of Mull, and Honfleur, learning of their history through the characters' experiences.
Through her entertaining ensemble cast, Pam tackles several real-life issues that readers can identify with grief, loneliness, pride, dementia, teen pregnancy, second chances, and death. Some scenes were humorous, others touching such as Ida, who suffered from dementia, responding to the singing of beloved hymns, and Arthur recalling his D-Day experiences to his family.
Having been a church musician for more years than I care to admit, I found the theme of hymnody especially enjoyable. I had to laugh at the scene where Carole, pushing for her own ideas of what the musical standard should be, told Clifford: "At our services to date, your ill-prepared team have come up with far too many modern choruses which may be known today, but will certainly be forgotten tomorrow." That controversy is still going on in churches around me!
However, there was one element involving the Christian faith that rubbed me the wrong way. While other issues that the characters were facing seemed to be dealt with in a straightforward biblical way, the advice to follow your heart was given by Clifford to a young musician dealing with same-sex attraction: "This is your life, your time. The decisions you make must feel right for you." I'm not trying to single out this controversial issue, because no matter what the fleshly desire is, those words kind of came from nowhere and seem at odds with a loving and holy God who says that "to obey is better than sacrifice." So while there's much that I liked about this story, I don't believe it's one that conservative readers would enjoy.
Thank you to Kregel/Lion Fiction for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The theme of Saints and Sailors is so much fun church members from Neil's current church and his previous one coming together for a Christian cruise around the British Isles, tracing the footsteps of ancient Celtic saints who represent the cradle of Christianity in England. It was wonderful to visit places like Lindisfarne, the Isle of Mull, and Honfleur, learning of their history through the characters' experiences.
Through her entertaining ensemble cast, Pam tackles several real-life issues that readers can identify with grief, loneliness, pride, dementia, teen pregnancy, second chances, and death. Some scenes were humorous, others touching such as Ida, who suffered from dementia, responding to the singing of beloved hymns, and Arthur recalling his D-Day experiences to his family.
Having been a church musician for more years than I care to admit, I found the theme of hymnody especially enjoyable. I had to laugh at the scene where Carole, pushing for her own ideas of what the musical standard should be, told Clifford: "At our services to date, your ill-prepared team have come up with far too many modern choruses which may be known today, but will certainly be forgotten tomorrow." That controversy is still going on in churches around me!
However, there was one element involving the Christian faith that rubbed me the wrong way. While other issues that the characters were facing seemed to be dealt with in a straightforward biblical way, the advice to follow your heart was given by Clifford to a young musician dealing with same-sex attraction: "This is your life, your time. The decisions you make must feel right for you." I'm not trying to single out this controversial issue, because no matter what the fleshly desire is, those words kind of came from nowhere and seem at odds with a loving and holy God who says that "to obey is better than sacrifice." So while there's much that I liked about this story, I don't believe it's one that conservative readers would enjoy.
Thank you to Kregel/Lion Fiction for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
