michellef's review against another edition
5.0
`The Remnant` is a science fiction novel written by author Monte Wolverton. Monte Wolverton is an award-winning author and syndicated editorial cartoonist. He is also an ordained minister.
What if the Apocalypse happened and Jesus didn't come back? The year is 2131 with a One World Government, the Federation. All religions and religious materials are banned. Christians who refuse to follow the law are sent to work camps. There is no way to hide, drones are everywhere and see everything. There is no privacy. Capitalism is the government of the day.
I agree with the quote by Nelson Mandela. "When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in he has no choice but to become an outlaw." The main characters in this novel have escaped imprisonment and are looking for a true Christian colony.
The central characters are: Grant Cochrin, a petroleum geologist. Grant's wife Dana, and his best friend Bryan, a fit, energetic thirty-something man. Along with their two children: their sixteen-year-old daughter Lissa and nine-year-old son Tadd.
Grant leads his friends and family through a secret tunnel so they could escape. He believes there are other Christians in the wilderness that want to serve Jesus, not just a tradition. The only religious item they have to look at is a torn page from the Bible.
I was pleased to see Jesus mentioned but was not expecting the mention of other religions. There is mention of all the major religions in this book, including Christianity which is actually a relationship and not a religion. Which the novel clarifies with this statement, 'Christianity does not function well as a religion. It is simply an active trust in Christ.' (see page 265) As the character Grant learns there is always an element of truth in every religion; a sense of community and order in one religion, compassion to see people healed in another. `But somehow the truth gets distorted or displaced by other elements.`
Every year I read many books that I believe deserve 5*. But, there is usually one that goes above and beyond my expectations, making me so glad I read it. `The Remnant` is my number one book for this year (2016). I recommend this novel to fans of Sci-Fi, Christians, Seekers of the Way and anyone who wants to read a good book.
Disclaimer: "I was provided a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own."
What if the Apocalypse happened and Jesus didn't come back? The year is 2131 with a One World Government, the Federation. All religions and religious materials are banned. Christians who refuse to follow the law are sent to work camps. There is no way to hide, drones are everywhere and see everything. There is no privacy. Capitalism is the government of the day.
I agree with the quote by Nelson Mandela. "When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in he has no choice but to become an outlaw." The main characters in this novel have escaped imprisonment and are looking for a true Christian colony.
The central characters are: Grant Cochrin, a petroleum geologist. Grant's wife Dana, and his best friend Bryan, a fit, energetic thirty-something man. Along with their two children: their sixteen-year-old daughter Lissa and nine-year-old son Tadd.
Grant leads his friends and family through a secret tunnel so they could escape. He believes there are other Christians in the wilderness that want to serve Jesus, not just a tradition. The only religious item they have to look at is a torn page from the Bible.
I was pleased to see Jesus mentioned but was not expecting the mention of other religions. There is mention of all the major religions in this book, including Christianity which is actually a relationship and not a religion. Which the novel clarifies with this statement, 'Christianity does not function well as a religion. It is simply an active trust in Christ.' (see page 265) As the character Grant learns there is always an element of truth in every religion; a sense of community and order in one religion, compassion to see people healed in another. `But somehow the truth gets distorted or displaced by other elements.`
Every year I read many books that I believe deserve 5*. But, there is usually one that goes above and beyond my expectations, making me so glad I read it. `The Remnant` is my number one book for this year (2016). I recommend this novel to fans of Sci-Fi, Christians, Seekers of the Way and anyone who wants to read a good book.
Disclaimer: "I was provided a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own."
daphself's review
2.0
The idea of this book is a great idea to write about. The beginning set the stage and kept me intrigued on how this book would unfold. It hinted at themes from other dystopian novels and a little from the Left Behind series.
But once I started in on the story, the grammatical errors became off-putting. Plus, with just about each chapter there were tons of backstory that kept pulling me away from the actual events happening and the author felt the need to explain ever minute detail of why it is that way or what this particular word meant.
The flashbacks were disjointing. I would really get involved and then I'm back at the beginning of the purge. Then I'm in the camp. And now back in the wilderness. It seemed to need more stability in the sequence of events.
Although the characters were developed well enough, I didn't feel anything about them. In a dystopian era I doubt a sixteen year old would be so whiny or materialistic. To me it would seem the children would have matured faster.
As for the end, it seemed odd. I thought this was a family that was "special"; just a regular family in search of truth. Instead, the ending led to the idea that this was a "plan" by the Federation all along.
It's an okay book. A good one for a young teen. Just not my type of book.
But once I started in on the story, the grammatical errors became off-putting. Plus, with just about each chapter there were tons of backstory that kept pulling me away from the actual events happening and the author felt the need to explain ever minute detail of why it is that way or what this particular word meant.
The flashbacks were disjointing. I would really get involved and then I'm back at the beginning of the purge. Then I'm in the camp. And now back in the wilderness. It seemed to need more stability in the sequence of events.
Although the characters were developed well enough, I didn't feel anything about them. In a dystopian era I doubt a sixteen year old would be so whiny or materialistic. To me it would seem the children would have matured faster.
As for the end, it seemed odd. I thought this was a family that was "special"; just a regular family in search of truth. Instead, the ending led to the idea that this was a "plan" by the Federation all along.
It's an okay book. A good one for a young teen. Just not my type of book.
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