Reviews

The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers

jawr719's review against another edition

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Too dark and emotional for me

nalian's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

emzo_henzo's review

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

random_spider's review against another edition

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3.5

**Not yet a settled review**

In this book, we follow our protagonist who was raped and found out later that she's conceiving the rapist's child. Stripped away from her 'perfect' life and future, she endured the harsh life while seeking advice from others before the inevitable.

The Atonement Child was slow and heavy. REALLY SLOW AND HEAVY. Although usually I consider this as a pacing problem, I think it works on this book's specific plot...and yet it was still a little too slow/heavy for its own good. WHY? It's extremely melodramatic (so each emotions were weighty enough, and the readers were forced to read chunks of them.) The book also took its time debating the concept of abortion. Yeah, the whole novel was basically a tedious dispute about whether it was right/wrong to kill an unborn. I'll give it to y'all whether you would enjoy this peculiarity, but I was sure fixated on its various discussions/points (though there was some bias from the author.)

Overall, it's good enough. 7/10. Need fresh rereading for updates and justifications.

karissakate's review against another edition

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2.0

I like Francine Rivers, but this book was just okay. Most people don't like it form a political perspective, and that part didn't really bother me.

The characters in this book were everything I hated about Christian college. Kids getting engaged after a few months of dating? Skipping the dating part all together and going straight to marriage? Ugh. no. And Ethan... the author did a great job or portraying the typical 'holier than thou' Christian hypocrite.

I wanted to like this book, but it just left a bad taste in my mouth.

romonko's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This book was loaned to me by a friend, and I felt that I should read it.  It's taken me awhile, but I've finally gotten around to it.  Obligation finished.  I didn't hate the book, and I knew that it was a Christian book, so no surprises there, but It just got a bit too much for me by the end.  I understand the story, and i think Ms. Rivers does a wonderful job of describing the consequences and the angst felt by victims of violent sexual assault.  The characters were described very well, but it just got too maudlin and preachy for me.  I have my own ideas about abortion, and will not share them on this book review.  They are mine and personal to me alone.  Is abortion right or wrong?  I don't know, but I don't think it is simply a matter of yes or no answers.  Circumstances and outside influences can change the answers.  The individuals themselves each have different, and, what to them are compelling reasons, for making the decisions that they make.  After reading this book, I think my eyes have been opened as to the daunting number of elements that must be considered when a decision like this is made.  And whatever decision is made, that decision will forever be there for the rest of that person's life.  This is a very well-written book, and a very heart wrenching one as well.  I am glad that I took the time to read it.  I knew there was a reason why this book has been calling to me from my shelf for all these years.

amgmontavon's review against another edition

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4.0

Há livros que ficam com a gente por muito, muito tempo. Mesmo que a gente não lembre todos os detalhes, mas definitivamente a história em si permanece... em nossa memória.

Esse é um livro que conheci há muitos anos atrás, tantos anos que nem lembro se foi minha mãe ou eu que o comprou, mas alguém comprou e eu espero que ainda esteja lá em casa. Definitivamente foi um livro que marcou e ficou gravado na minha "memória literária" (será que esse quadro vem para ficar?).

Naquele tempo pegar um livro cristão falando sobre aborto foi algo completamente diferente. Eu estava curiosa porque, afinal, se o professor de Filosofia colocou adolescentes do 1° ano (do antigo Segundo Grau) para discutir sobre o assunto, por que a igreja, ou pelo menos a literatura cristã não fazia a mesma coisa? Pensando bem, eu não era tão madura naquele tempo, então com certeza achei que ler um livro com a palavra "aborto" no título era meio que um tabu e ao mesmo tempo rebeldia. Eu iria ler sobre algo que você não ouvia ninguém falando na Escola Bíblica.
Mas a história acabou sendo completamente diferente do que eu tinha imaginado (não que eu lembre agora o que imaginei naquela época)

Ao "conhecer" Dynah, você vai conhecer uma garota doce, obediente, fiel a Deus e ao noivo; 99,9% perfeita, a filha que todo pai gostaria de ter e que os homens escolheriam como esposa. Mas uma noite, ela sofre o pior tipo de trauma que uma mulher pode sofrer, e a partir daí a vida dela vira um pesadelo.
Só agora fiz uma conexão aqui... Será que a autora escolheu esse nome para simbolizar a história bíblica sobre Diná, a filha de Jacó? Pode ser, apesar de que não temos muitas informações sobre o que aconteceu com a Diná da Bíblia depois que ela foi violentada e os irmãos dela saíram matando os caras lá.

Bom, você consegue entender meu ponto, né? A Dynah desse livro enquadra-se em praticamente todos os quesitos que a maioria das leis permite que uma mulher tenha um aborto, mas por uma razão que só dá pra entender lendo o livro, ela não toma essa decisão tão rapidamente quanto todo mundo quer que ela faça. Na verdade, será que não existiria outra solução? É isso que ela vai ter que descobrir em meio à dor e o desespero.
Não tem como não sofrer junto com Dynah, e principalmente ter vontade de esganar aquele noivo ridículo dela e todas as pessoas que a julgam mesmo sabendo a verdade sobre sua situação.

O livro me fez pensar em muitos aspectos da vida, especialmente no que diz respeito à facilidade que dar respostas prontas para situações pelas quais nunca passamos; o difícil é enfrentar essas situações e tomar as decisões que não vão ferir nossa consciência.

kittlyn's review against another edition

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3.0

Another lovely book. Heartwrenching, powerful, and has a great message. A touchy subject for most, but amazing. Powerful story about forgiveness, regrets, love, and more.

thejumpingsheep's review against another edition

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I was so excited to see a Francine Rivers book on the Tyndale Summer Reading Program list as she is my favorite author. I thought for sure I had read all of her books but I guess I missed this one and the other one on the list somehow. The book I just finished is The Atonement Child. It is about a young Christian girl, who is raped and ends up pregnant. It is about her struggle with whether to abort or not and the reactions of all those around her. And through all of it many are set free and brought back to a right relationship with the Lord.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is a must read and one that will keep you up late at night, turning page after page. I want to tell you so much more about the book but I don't want to give the story away. This would also be a great book for someone who has had an abortion and is struggling with the fact that they did.

This book will make you rethink your positions and solidify your resolve to be pro-life. I give it 5 stars!!

krdavis02's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0