Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

So sorry you didn't finish it. #2 in the series was the best , but you needed to get to the end . Perhaps one day you will finish it

hi everyone...im new here and i've read this book back then but now i wanna read it again cause its the best book ever....but i don't know how to read it ONLINE!!! could someone help please... and also i cant find the book here in my country:)

Melinda, I don't know if the book is available online. I got my copy from the library.

lol ok thank you

Gina, this book is meant to be read by christians. I think that is why you didn't get it. If you where a christian you would have enjoyed it very much. Hope someday you come to Christ and enjoy these kind of books.

Amanda wrote: "Gina, this book is meant to be read by christians. I think that is why you didn't get it. If you where a christian you would have enjoyed it very much. Hope someday you come to Christ and enjoy the..."

Amanda, I am a Christian. But I don't believe that I'm better than anyone else because of it. I resented the authors view that only Christians could be good people or were worthy of respect. Not very Christ like in my opinion.

I don't know...I didn't get any of those feelings. I don't know where the anti-semintic or "more-holy-than-thou" things your talking about. I never felt any of the main characters thought they were better than anyone else. I would think that if they thought that then the characters would totally separate themselves from the "ungodly" or "lesser" or whatever term you prefer. idk...no comprendo :/

I thought the characters were realistic. In all 3 books, you can clearly see the temptations they face. The author is trying to encourage us to read the bible for ourselves.

Dear Gina,please do not critize other peoples work like you did to this.It's FICTION, so there are bound to be 'historical inaccuracies' and exaggeration of characters. Thank You

Are you kidding me Marita? Isn't that the whole point of Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ.com? To post & share what you thought of the books you read? If I were to not post my real opinion I would be lying.
So, I shouldn't criticize other people's fictional works, but you're free to criticize my opinion. Yea, that makes sense.
I find it odd that I have panned a number of books here for various reasons & some I just plain didn't like. But not one of them has garnered the comments that this book has. It's just a book. But somehow because it's a Christian Fiction book, it must be above reproach. It is still fiction, not religion, yet the attitude I've gotten is that it's heresy express an opinion that is contrary to the author's.

Please, do not get me wrong. You are right, feel free to sincerely share your thoughts and opinions. I apologise for what I posted earlier

Also considering you we're listening to the audio book your emotions might been swayed by the tone the reader had. I know when my AP English teacher read Heart of Darkness to us, it swayed our view on the book depending on our own personal experiences.

as a new believer and someone who has been around the block, I can understand why you feel this way-but I have to tell you it is a bit of a knee-jerk reaction. A true Christian understands that no one is "better" than anyone else. A true Christian understands that some people fight against God they may have a happy life superficially but will be struggling ferociously on the inside. This is a theme throughout the series that I highly value. I also see that the Characters may claim to have all of the answers at times but then learn quickly they do not. Another unmistakeable reality of our world that show up in these books.

Perhaps Francine Rivers wrote it the way she did to demonstrate the amazing power that redemption has--that even those of us who can sin so greatly can experience such a love and forgiveness that truly saves us from ourselves. If I may, I recommend you read the first book in the series first. When read in its entirety, I think it really is a beautiful, heart-wrenching story that has the best, most satisfying end, culminating in #2, that you'll find in any book. It definitely has some predictable aspects, but not many authors can come up with real, good ideas without dipping into previously made ones. I think there just honestly aren't many new ideas out there to be found since there have been millions of fiction stories published and not published. Rivers layered her story with multiple plot lines and wrote with such detail and emotion, and I think that's what makes this series so appealing. Hadassah is also used in the story to demonstrate the lack of judgment, love, and understanding Christians are to demonstrate to non-believers, and I loved this example Francine gave to her readers. Not because we're better than them--not at all--we are just as much sinners as them, as seen by the redemptions in the book of those who had not believed initially--but because we are called to a higher standard--to demonstrate just what love, patience, and forgiveness looks like. God be praised. :)

I think you would have understood and enjoyed the book better if you had read the first one. Many of the relationships were far too complex to truly understand from just the references to the first book that are in this sequel.

Good God. I don't know what it is about this book's devotes that caused them to go into such an absolute tizzy over the fact that someone panned this book. Out of the hundreds of reviews I have written on GoodReads, some of them I of books hated even more, this is the *only* one I have received more than a couple comments on & continue to get comments on 5 years after writing it! I've had fans of this book question by religious beliefs, take me to task on the fact I have an opinion at all & now suggesting that I don't know how to listen. I understand it can feel quite personal when someone doesn’t like a book that you enjoy, but this is nothing short of amazing. I’m waiting for one of you to shout “Blasphemy!� at me.

As for not being able to understand the book due to the audio nature of the format, I do understand where you are coming from. Some audio books are poorly read, but if they are written well can be understood & even enjoyable. I have been reading on my own for near 40 years now & have been listening to stories for even longer. I think I know how to understand bad writing, even if I'm hearing it.

For example most authors should not read their own work. Listening to Fahrenheit 451 read by Ray Bradbury was not a pleasant audio experience. However, even through his gravely, breathy octogenarian voice the writing was such a masterpiece; I was riveted in my seat enjoying every word.

I suggest you get a copy of the audio book. IMO, the best thing about it was the narrator. He was nothing short of a great voice actor choosing different voices for the characters that really brought the book to life & assisted in the visualization of the story. But even with a great voice artist, the contrived story still shines through.

Wow! Can't believe the number of comments simply because someone didn't like the book. I read the book and enjoyed it as well but it wasn't without its faults. Leave the poor woman alone and allow her to have her opinion without getting the Inquisition.

Thank you Michelle. I'm glad that you enjoyed the book & wish you well.

I agree, we are all allowed to have our own opinion, but I dont think that Christians should be slamming the good intentions of other Christian. If you read the entirety of this story u do not get the impression that the author really is putting all of mankind in the same position, in that we all need Jesus christ to be our savior (the character Prometheus is a prime example of the author being non judgmental nor is she partial to Christians). Hadassah is clear in expressing and demonstrating the love that Christ has for all of mankind. My only issue I have is, when a reader gives a review on a book they havent completly read. That could actually be misleading, and one cannot fully undrstand the direction an author is trying to take with the characters without reading each book in any given series. It Is a disservice to the author when a reader prejudges this book with limited information which could lead to the possiblty of a faulty assessment. Especially in such a condesending way. God could be using this author to reach soneone in need. So again I say, readers have the right to their own opinions but with that being said, we should be considerate to authors who put so much of their time to write these book for our enjoyment. I hope this does not come as an offense. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ

5 years later and people are STILL commenting. I'm sorry, Gina. This must be such a pain in the a** to you.

I stand by my comment.

@Shaavon - The fact that this reviewer couldn't get through the whole story was part of the basis of her review. People experience this all the time - where they have such a distaste for the book, they don't finish it. She never pretended to and explained that this is partly why she gave a negative review. If a book can't hold someone's attention or interest several chapters in, they have every right to express that. It would be misleading to claim she had read the book in full but she never did that. As an author, I know how hurtful negative reviews can be and I have seen some amazingly condescending, vitriolic ones - this however was not one of them. I have no doubt that God uses Francine Rivers' work to reach others but what does that have to do with this woman's personal opinion?

Sorry, Gina. I'm just adding fuel to a fire that should have died 5 years ago. Props to you for sticking to your guns and not taking the review down even in the face of the nonstop comments.

Shaavon wrote: "I agree, we are all allowed to have our own opinion, but I dont think that Christians should be slamming the good intentions of other Christian.
Oh, so I can't have my own opinion about someone else's good intentions but you can have one of mine. *sigh* This is a book review site. Not a religious review site. I have not slammed anyone's Christianity. Although, other commentators have questioned mine.

I stand by my original review. I did not enjoy this book. I take no issue with you enjoying the book. I reviewed the parts that I read, made it clear that I had not finished it. Yes, perhaps I would have understood it better had I finished it & read the entire series, but one has to make a decision on how to spend one's own time. I felt that I had given the book a fair shake & didn't see any reason to continue when there are so many other books out there I do enjoy. I don't make the decision to abandon a book easily, & I don't do it often. (see my list of completed books) I don't believe that I have been mean to anyone, I have just expressed my honest opinion as well as the reasons behind it. I haven't leaped onto your review of the book to tell you how wrong your opinions are. If you believe that I have been disrespectful to you, I apologize. But I don't think that not liking a book you did a sign of disrespect.

once again, my statement is not based on you having opinions on books, it's the fact that you didn't read the first book then commented on the second book which you also didn't read to the fullest. please don't twist my statements, my concern is not that you have an opinion its the lack of information by which you based your opinion on. if you had made those comments after sincerely reading the books (starting with book 1) I wouldn't have commented at all.

I was open & honest with my review in that I hadn't read the first book & didn't finish the second one. I never tried to hide that fact. My opinion was based on the part of the book that I had read. Even though I felt like it was a waste of my time to continue reading it, I believe that I should be able to state that & why I didn't finish it. I rarely don't read a book to the end, but when I don't, I include why in my review.

But maybe you're right & I didn't give the books a fair shake. I promise you that I will go back & read all 3. Right after I have finished reading all the other books that I actually *want* to read.

Gina wrote: "I was open & honest with my review in that I hadn't read the first book & didn't finish the second one. I never tried to hide that fact. My opinion was based on the part of the book that I had read..."

LOL!

Gina, after you read the books, by all means state your opinion on how you feel about the series. I dont expect us to all agree on whats we like about books and what we dont like, just an open mind and an honest attempt. I comend u for even considering to read the series after your first impression. I pray that no matter how you view the authors writings, that you will receive something from it that brings you closer to Christ. I say that humbly knowing that I was reminded of what God could do in the lives of others and in my own life even in times that it seems nothing at all can be done. Sometimes I get so comfortable with the accomadated life I live, that I dont seek God as fervently as the characters in these Christian books do. Although I know its fiction, I can see what emphasis the author is trying to make to the reader. The emphasis by Christian authors sometimes seems exasgerated, but it helps in showing how much more I could be trusting and leaning on God and not my own free will and understanding. I hope these statements are received well by you. Again, I am in no way trying to offened you. God bless you in your continued read and growth in Christ.

I don't think anyone here was attacking you for your opinion except the one who quickly apologized. All they did was express their opinion back. Which is totally allowed as there is the option to comment on your opinion. Just as you were free to speak yours, they are free to disagree. Its really not so dramatic. I loved the book but the fact that you did not does not bother me.

Oh my goodness. This was my opinion exactly of this book. What is up with all of these people assuming you are not a Christian?? I have been a Christian for around 20 years and I hate that the author paints all Christians as perfect and and non-Christians as conniving villains. It would be a way more interesting and complex read had she not gone the normal, formulaic route when developing her characters. I can not handle much more of this book - Admittedly, I haven't read very much so far. But, so far, it is not at all indicative of all Christians and non-Christians - I know many on each side that are wonderful and some that are not my cup of tea and judgmental (sound familiar, anyone?). Suffice it to say, from the day Jesus was crucified, his ministry has not been the same because His followers are not perfect. This will remain that way until the day He comes back. So let's just be real.

I totally agree with you, Gina. One of my friend's recommended it to me so I'm struggling through it. But I prefer the old fashion books, deep writing and all of it was Christian, not like this. I get the point in making it understandable for everyone, No matter how few words they know, but it just bothers me being set back in time and not being written in what would be an English equivalent, plus, attitudes would have been a lot different in Christians then, I think. Seeing as my grandparents are strict and it only seems to get more lax with time. But Yeah, I just can't stand historically incorrect anything.

Totally agree, plus I found it a little homophobic

Most people in Rome at that time in history were thieves, murderers, rapists, etc. Have you ever picked up a history book. Romans killed anyone who didn't bow down to their emporer. They were abominable. That point in history was an awful time, full of killing for fun (The games) and masters raping their slaves etc. That's just the sad fact of that point in time. Francine rivers was trying to show how far faith can get you by telling Hadassahs story. I'm sorry you couldn't get into the book, but honestly you have to read the first one to even come close to understanding the second. And homophobic? It's a Christian Fiction.... obviously they don't believe being gay is okay....

I agree with Lora...

I completely agree with your review. I am a Christian, and totally regret spending so many hours completing the audio. the end was easy to see coming and I didn't like how perfect the Christian characters were portrayed. you nailed it!

I'm just gonna take a wild guess, you're not Christian?