I was going to tack this little post script onto my last post, then decided it was well worth its own. I don’t know if I’ve ever given a review of a book I’ve yet to finish reading, but this time I can’t really hold back.
I’m several chapters into Chris Fabry’s Almost Heaven now, and it’s already wrapped itself around my heart. Actually, it had me crying on the first page of chapter one for this wonderful, sweet character, Billy Allman. And every other chapter or so I feel like I’m being fed a full spiritual meal. If you want an interesting and sympathetic main character to root for, and an insight into spiritual warfare that will have you constantly in communion with the Father, and examining your own inner life and motives while reveling in beautiful prose and a compelling story, then Almost Heaven is for you.
It’s no surprise to me this book won a Christy Award. If I could only write a story this rich and spiritually profound! Chris Fabry I believe has a special anointing for this aspect of the craft. I’ll just be happy to be held in its embrace for the hours I get to read it, but I have a feeling this one’s going to stay with me for a long while.
Visit Chris and learn more about Billy Allman and Almost Heaven at his website: http://chrisfabry.com/almost-heaven.html
Billy Allman played the mandolin, and his story makes my heart sing.
Lori, This book was just as great as you said! I see that the author has a followup book called "June Bug". Alas, the library does not have this one….
Thank you for the review!
Becky
Becky, I'm happy to hear you enjoyed it too. The spiritual warfare aspect of AH made me so much more conscious of those aspects of the spiritual realm that I knew were real, but are so easy to forget about or gloss over as we go about our days. It made me want to conduct myself in a manner that does NOT cause the enemy's minions to dance and chitter with glee (shudder), rather causes the angels to rejoice and wonder at His grace.
I haven't read June Bug yet, except the first chapter. I believe he wrote that one before Almost Heaven, and the main character makes her appearance in Almost Heaven (so the outcome of her story is a little bit spoiled, but I still intend to read it).