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cgagnon427's review against another edition
4.0
This book was recommended by several friends. I’m not much into historical fiction, so it took 300+ pages for me to get into it; however, I’m glad I pushed through!
rnoth20's review against another edition
1.0
Although well-written and easy to read, I do believe this is too explicit and takes too many liberties. Incredibly graphic. I would not recommend this book to someone who has experienced sexual abuse or trauma.
katie_holder's review against another edition
5.0
This book was the absolute best! I loved it so much. I wanted to know what was going to happen with each turn of the page but I dreaded when it would be finished.
-Y’all have got to read this one!!
-Y’all have got to read this one!!
palomien's review against another edition
5.0
So many years my list of favourite books was unchanged. And then came Redeeming love. And it's definitely earned it's place on the top.
It appears that for the book to become one of my favourites, is has to make me cry. And the more, the better. And I cried, oh, how I cried during half and then some of the book!!! And then came love and all the wonderful feelings in me, and then again tears and anguish. And then - peace.
What made this book so special? Three persons.
Angel/Amanda/Tizrah/Sarah
It was a heartbreaking journey to witness how she suffered from the life she had to lead, how broken and scarred she was. How she fought and lost so many times to her inner demons. But she was redeemed and tought to love and forgive herself most of all, by the love of other two persons.
Michael.
Strong, faithful, determined and simply the most wonderful man. God's man who listened to his call and placed his faith and love in a soiled dove. Who loved her with deep and strong love throughout all the hardship. And it was not easy. I'm glad he was made human with all those moments he was minutes from giving up, where he struggled to understand and don't give up. And he didn't. By the everlasting help of the third person - God.
God.
I was afraid that faith will be stiff and preaching in a Christian fiction. But instead I was granted the gift to witness the faith in action. Michael lived in God and by God's words. His every action, day by day, was to serve God. To listen to him. And he showed God to Angel not by preaching, but by simply living his faith, by loving her with God's love. That's how it should be.
The last couple of chapters lacked the enchantment of the rest of the book, however, it did not change the fact that this is one of the most beautiful stories I've ever read.
It appears that for the book to become one of my favourites, is has to make me cry. And the more, the better. And I cried, oh, how I cried during half and then some of the book!!! And then came love and all the wonderful feelings in me, and then again tears and anguish. And then - peace.
What made this book so special? Three persons.
Angel/Amanda/Tizrah/Sarah
It was a heartbreaking journey to witness how she suffered from the life she had to lead, how broken and scarred she was. How she fought and lost so many times to her inner demons. But she was redeemed and tought to love and forgive herself most of all, by the love of other two persons.
Michael.
Strong, faithful, determined and simply the most wonderful man. God's man who listened to his call and placed his faith and love in a soiled dove. Who loved her with deep and strong love throughout all the hardship. And it was not easy. I'm glad he was made human with all those moments he was minutes from giving up, where he struggled to understand and don't give up. And he didn't. By the everlasting help of the third person - God.
God.
I was afraid that faith will be stiff and preaching in a Christian fiction. But instead I was granted the gift to witness the faith in action. Michael lived in God and by God's words. His every action, day by day, was to serve God. To listen to him. And he showed God to Angel not by preaching, but by simply living his faith, by loving her with God's love. That's how it should be.
The last couple of chapters lacked the enchantment of the rest of the book, however, it did not change the fact that this is one of the most beautiful stories I've ever read.
dholsonback's review against another edition
5.0
This book is by far my favorite book. A redemptive love story that gives example to the way Christ's love cherishes us even at our worst points in life. I could not put this book down and I have loaned it out to several people since reading so they could experience it too. If you read any of the book that I have suggested, it must be this one!!!
_renee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
emkschneider's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infertility, Misogyny, Rape, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Grief, and Death of parent
peasandkaris's review against another edition
1.0
This is an extremely dangerous book. I recognize that it is supposed to be an allegory following the tale of Hosea in the Bible, but the ideas it sets forth about sex and romance are dangerous. In my opinion, this book is not appropriate for teenagers or anyone who hasn't fully thought through romance, marriage, and gender roles within a marriage.
First, this book completely ignores the idea of consent or bodily autonomy. Throughout the novel, the main character, Angel, is forced to do things against her will. Whether it's sleeping with men at the brothel or even being forced out of bed to go on a hike, she is given no autonomy over her own body. When she denies the romantic advances of the male protagonist (her future husband), he refuses to back down--asking her over and over again to marry him despite her obvious objections. Even after they end up together and she runs away, he runs after her--further showing that he doesn't value her boundaries. The entire novel is a story of Angel running away or saying no, and her husband, Michael, going after her anyway.
Second, I don't like the way that Satan is portrayed throughout the novel. Angel's own thoughts are said to be put there "by Satan", to the point where her ideas about her own life are seen as subservient to that of her husband's. This totally takes away from her agency as a woman, and reinforces the idea that women should have no voice or thoughts of their own.
Third, the male character in this book, who is supposed to be the romantic one in the story, is abusive verbally, physically, and emotionally toward the main character. I am fine with reading about abusive characters, but I am not fine with authors making them out to be the romantic, "good" ones.
Fourth, Rivers' breaks a few cardinal rules of writing. She tells, rather than shows--and often times, what she tells us about the characters is in complete contradiction to what the characters do--IE. a moment where she tells the reader that the Michael doesn't want a wife to just cook and clean for him, after we've read a portion where Michael literally forces his wife to cook and clean for him and berates her when she won't. Rivers also changes narrative viewpoint halfway through sentences. It's a really choppy read.
tl;dr: This story is incredibly misogynistic. It furthers the idea that women have no agency or autonomy over their own bodies, and romanticizes abuse.
First, this book completely ignores the idea of consent or bodily autonomy. Throughout the novel, the main character, Angel, is forced to do things against her will. Whether it's sleeping with men at the brothel or even being forced out of bed to go on a hike, she is given no autonomy over her own body. When she denies the romantic advances of the male protagonist (her future husband), he refuses to back down--asking her over and over again to marry him despite her obvious objections. Even after they end up together and she runs away, he runs after her--further showing that he doesn't value her boundaries. The entire novel is a story of Angel running away or saying no, and her husband, Michael, going after her anyway.
Second, I don't like the way that Satan is portrayed throughout the novel. Angel's own thoughts are said to be put there "by Satan", to the point where her ideas about her own life are seen as subservient to that of her husband's. This totally takes away from her agency as a woman, and reinforces the idea that women should have no voice or thoughts of their own.
Third, the male character in this book, who is supposed to be the romantic one in the story, is abusive verbally, physically, and emotionally toward the main character. I am fine with reading about abusive characters, but I am not fine with authors making them out to be the romantic, "good" ones.
Fourth, Rivers' breaks a few cardinal rules of writing. She tells, rather than shows--and often times, what she tells us about the characters is in complete contradiction to what the characters do--IE. a moment where she tells the reader that the Michael doesn't want a wife to just cook and clean for him, after we've read a portion where Michael literally forces his wife to cook and clean for him and berates her when she won't. Rivers also changes narrative viewpoint halfway through sentences. It's a really choppy read.
tl;dr: This story is incredibly misogynistic. It furthers the idea that women have no agency or autonomy over their own bodies, and romanticizes abuse.