Customer Reviews

Arise Beloved

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have read both of Glynn Harper's books and loved them both! This one centers around a female aviator who spends her life looking for a place to belong, other than the big, blue sky. She finds love early in life and doesn't know enough to realize it. Read the book to see if you believe she finally finds where she belongs. Along the way, you will meet several characters you will love to love. Harper writes this novel almost as if you belong in the world he is creating for his main character.

Sensitively portrayed by Author Glynn Compton Harper this is a book of romance, ambition, danger, adventure and love of flying and of the planes flown. From this, a story emerges. The little known saga of women pilots in World War Two shows the events and responses to them in a novel that captivates and entertains.
The Rev. Carolyn L. Davis

The first 3/4 of this novel is terrrific! I love Becky Bright, female aviatrix and WASP and all her little imperfections, her disdain for men in general, her attitude, her spunk, and the way she makes it in a "man's world." Her lover, Troy, is a bit of wimpy fellow at first but he really shows his stuff in the end. Her husband is a horrible match for her and comes with a nightmare mother in law (a bit overdone.. the mother in law bit) and I especially enjoyed the war scenes. Very craftily done. However, 3/4 thru the novel, a German prisoner of war is introduced and his recent life story. He happens to be a homosexual, thus readers are suddenly introduced to a lot of homosexual characters. This took me by surprise, as the back of the book never says anything about this and it plays a good part of the story.. A couple chapters in a row, actually. Normally, this would not bother me, but the same sex relationship consists of a barely legal young man and a his benefactor, father like figure. I think a little warning would have been nice. Thus, four stars instead of five. The rest of the story regarding Becky, Troy, and the war was terrific. Knowing what I do now, I would not have paid 18 to 25 dollars for it tho.

Arise Beloved puts the reader directly into the lives of the characters. The author, who knows Texas, reveals the ethos of the small-town life of a family with all the flaws and strengths of most of us. Harper's development of Gunther, the man's deepest fears and shame, love and passion, makes the reader feel as though he/she is an intimate friend. Well done!