Review of Always Before Me
17 posts
[Following is a volunteer review of "Always Before Me" by John Servant.]
Woven around religion and what it takes to be a true Christian, Always Before Me by John Servant is an intriguing fictional novel that tells mainly of the life of Father Paul, a Catholic priest. as narrated by father Richard Turner. Father Paul is found in an unpleasant situation with the law because of his obedience to God which does not align with men and is considered to be an enemy of justice. With his refusal to yield to the pressure of the world and betrayal by one whom he saved, he is convicted and put in prison. Forgotten by his colleagues, rejected by his friends and denied the privilege to say mass, father Paul finds himself in a situation where most people would feel hopeless, dejected and depressed. However, Father Paul's faith in God only grows stronger as he lives in constant prayer. The prisoners begin to see Father Paul as a holy and righteous man, and just as Joseph found favour in the prison, father Paul also finds favour in the eyes of the prison warden. Having been a part of a major testimony of the warden, Father Paul is finally allowed to say mass. Through this medium, Father Paul reaches out to his fellow convicts who feel hopeless and rejected by society. From saying mass to hearing confessions, Father Paul finds purpose once again.
It is commonly said that one cannot live without enemies, despite the many who respect and look to Father Paul, some wish for his downfall. Ramon is a gang leader who dominates through drugs and violence. Afraid that Father Paul would turn the prisoners away from him, plots Father Paul's downfall but does he succeed? In the midst of these, Father Paul experiences when he loses a loved one and finds a friend in Gus, a fellow prisoner. They say a Christian's life is never and Father Paul's life shows just that. Father Paul's strong faith during persecution encourages Father Anthony to do the same as it were a contagious spirit brought in by Father Paul.
I enjoyed reading Always Before Me and I found it to be enlightening. Father Paul's character as a priest is fascinating. From his obedience and faith to his humility and dedication, Father Paul's life characterized the persecutions faced by Christians in these present times and how to overcome them. I enjoyed reading Father Paul's teachings during mass and the manner with which he spoke to those around. His humility and dedication were captivating. I like the author's choice of words and the Bible references which captured pressing issues in many lives. The writer was able to pass across a significant message on Faith in God as a Christian. The book is also well edited.
Although interesting, the story wasn't fascinating right from the start and I lost interest but I later found it to be captivating along the way. The introduction was a bit confusing. John Daly who meets Father Richard when he comes for his inheritance is said to be curious and asks about Father Anthony's story. However, when Father Richard settles to give him the answers, we are told that he is 'fidgeting' in his seat because he is only interested in getting his inheritance and not being preached to despite being the one who asked for the story. This is a bit confusing John's latter action seems to contrast with the former.
I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because the story was fascinating and enlightening. Although I encountered a few confusing moments because of the complex sentences, I was still able to understand the message being passed across. Asides from this, the book is an amazing novel and I applaud the writer for a job well done.
I recommend this book for readers who are interested in religious literature, specifically on Christianity, and what it entails to be a Christian; especially Catholic. I would also encourage those in need of encouragement or upliftment to read this book because of the words and Bible verses cited. I would advise those easily disturbed by sad stories not to go for this book as it is quite tragic and can make some get sympathetic.
******
Always Before Me
View: on Bookshelves |
Woven around religion and what it takes to be a true Christian, Always Before Me by John Servant is an intriguing fictional novel that tells mainly of the life of Father Paul, a Catholic priest. as narrated by father Richard Turner. Father Paul is found in an unpleasant situation with the law because of his obedience to God which does not align with men and is considered to be an enemy of justice. With his refusal to yield to the pressure of the world and betrayal by one whom he saved, he is convicted and put in prison. Forgotten by his colleagues, rejected by his friends and denied the privilege to say mass, father Paul finds himself in a situation where most people would feel hopeless, dejected and depressed. However, Father Paul's faith in God only grows stronger as he lives in constant prayer. The prisoners begin to see Father Paul as a holy and righteous man, and just as Joseph found favour in the prison, father Paul also finds favour in the eyes of the prison warden. Having been a part of a major testimony of the warden, Father Paul is finally allowed to say mass. Through this medium, Father Paul reaches out to his fellow convicts who feel hopeless and rejected by society. From saying mass to hearing confessions, Father Paul finds purpose once again.
It is commonly said that one cannot live without enemies, despite the many who respect and look to Father Paul, some wish for his downfall. Ramon is a gang leader who dominates through drugs and violence. Afraid that Father Paul would turn the prisoners away from him, plots Father Paul's downfall but does he succeed? In the midst of these, Father Paul experiences when he loses a loved one and finds a friend in Gus, a fellow prisoner. They say a Christian's life is never and Father Paul's life shows just that. Father Paul's strong faith during persecution encourages Father Anthony to do the same as it were a contagious spirit brought in by Father Paul.
I enjoyed reading Always Before Me and I found it to be enlightening. Father Paul's character as a priest is fascinating. From his obedience and faith to his humility and dedication, Father Paul's life characterized the persecutions faced by Christians in these present times and how to overcome them. I enjoyed reading Father Paul's teachings during mass and the manner with which he spoke to those around. His humility and dedication were captivating. I like the author's choice of words and the Bible references which captured pressing issues in many lives. The writer was able to pass across a significant message on Faith in God as a Christian. The book is also well edited.
Although interesting, the story wasn't fascinating right from the start and I lost interest but I later found it to be captivating along the way. The introduction was a bit confusing. John Daly who meets Father Richard when he comes for his inheritance is said to be curious and asks about Father Anthony's story. However, when Father Richard settles to give him the answers, we are told that he is 'fidgeting' in his seat because he is only interested in getting his inheritance and not being preached to despite being the one who asked for the story. This is a bit confusing John's latter action seems to contrast with the former.
I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because the story was fascinating and enlightening. Although I encountered a few confusing moments because of the complex sentences, I was still able to understand the message being passed across. Asides from this, the book is an amazing novel and I applaud the writer for a job well done.
I recommend this book for readers who are interested in religious literature, specifically on Christianity, and what it entails to be a Christian; especially Catholic. I would also encourage those in need of encouragement or upliftment to read this book because of the words and Bible verses cited. I would advise those easily disturbed by sad stories not to go for this book as it is quite tragic and can make some get sympathetic.
******
Always Before Me
View: on Bookshelves |
You are not logged in. Please log in or sign up to view members replies, participate in the discussion, and access more features.
