Okay, so the story goes back and forth between a man and a woman. The man (Drew) happens in 2002/2003, and the woman (Valentine) happens in 2008/2009.
Here's your warning--this is a blatantly Christian novel. Big talk about Jesus and praying and redemption and the Church.
That said...
Drew is an ex-pastor who did everything wrong. He was kind of in it for the right reasons, but mostly for the wrong ones. When we meet him, he's left his mega-church and is living at the beach. He's detailing his sins for Father Brian, even though Drew isn't Catholic. It's a sad story of a man who wants power and approval, and will do anything to get it.
Valentine works in a Sideshow. Her face has been burned, and she dresses up in a green costume to become the Lizard Woman. Her best friend is Lella, the legless-armless woman. Val is bitter about her past, and churches in general.
It's the off-season in Val's time, so they're hanging around Mount Oak at the owner's house. A bunch of them who work in the sideshow stay together in the off-season.
Anyway, while Drew is working through his issues, so is Val.
It's amazing. Well written, well twined together, the story line is amazing. While the end gets a little cheesy, it is still poignant and beautiful.
I was a little sad that Gus stuck to his vows, but that's the (usually pushed aside and beaten up) romantic in me.
Oh, and let me just say that, for the record, the sins they deal with are things we all deal with. Wanting more. Greed. Unforgiveness. A likelihood of putting ourselves and our wants before anyone or anything else.
I loved it.
1 comment:
Life changing for sure. You know that picture of them in that house serving all those people and on call day or night all for the glory of God and because of Him the love of man?
That's my perfect life.
Post a Comment