James Y.K. Moy

(5) = Best; (4) = Better; (3) = Good; (2) = Fair; (1) = OK

These abstracts serve as reminders to myself; they serve to "jog" my memory on what a book was all about. That's all. This is not a literary critique, not a social commentary, and certainly nothing profound to warrant further discussion.

(5) = means that I really enjoyed this book; (1) = means I finished reading it but wonder if my time could have been better spent elsewhere.

I just finished read Glimpses of Paradise by James Scott Bell. I thought it was excellent. Well written. The author “sucks” you into the lives of his main characters, and before I knew it, I was hooked and had to read through to the end to see what happens to Zee, and Doyle and Molly and a host of other characters. .

There were sermons preached by Zee’s father who is a “hell, fire and brimstone” Baptist preacher. There were other sermons and admonishments by a Rev. R.A. Torrey. Doyle is brought to faith by Torrey. I am familiar with Torrey’s writings. He’s a conservative Christian theologian. I read his materials when I was at seminary. However, the use of real people in a work of fiction surprised me. At what point did the lives of our fictional characters intersect with real Hollywood characters? When did fiction begin and end in this novel? When does it cross the line between reality and fantasy? There were some unseedy characters who commit murder in the story. Is the District Attorney real or fake? Are the Movie Producers real or “made up” in the story? This can be confusing.

Life changing transformation occurs in our hero’s life - hallelujah. I can live with that message. That’s not unfamiliar territory. But, what is the author getting at? He’s not sold me on Torrey’s preaching and empathy in resolving Doyle’s trauma from a grenade explosion that killed his buddy’s life in WWI. I suspect he realizes this, so he appends an Epilog and an Author’s Note at the end to highlight the importance of Torrey’s contribution in the Christian world and closes with a “happy ending” in the Lawrence’s family. Molly and Doyle lives happily ever after.

The back cover says “James Scott Bell is (a) bestselling author …and is a winner of the Christy Award for excellence in Christian fiction and is currently fiction columnist for Writer’s Digest magazine…” I usually scan books on the library’s table with the Staff’s Recommendation. If I had read this line up front I probably would not have picked up this book. But now I am impressed. I liked James Scott Bell! (4)