Bright Valley of Love [Paperback]

Edna Hatlestad Hong (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 154 pages
• Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Pub; 1979 Pocket pbk. ed edition (June 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806617004
• ISBN-13: 978-0806617008
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,472,243 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heart warming and faith building evidence of God's love, October 28, 2000

By 

D. Wickham "RE Investor" (Ft Collins, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bright Valley of Love (Paperback)

The story of Gunther, abandoned and abused by his family, finding a place of love and safety among Christians who care for all is so moving. The story is told from Gunther's perspective as he grapples with rejection and feelings of worthlessness. Pastor Fritz's love for him as well as all the others is remarkable. The whole community embraces those society rejects. All of this takes place during Nazi Germany when the Nazis are killing all who don't measure up. Yet Pastor Fritz, through prayer and courage, protects them all.

This is a book that I have read and reread. It was one we read at the dinner table and discussed. If you can locate the book, it is a "must read".

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHERE ARE THE PUBLISHERS?, March 29, 2011

By 

John L. Layman "Jack Layman" (Columbia, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bright valley of love (Paperback)

With so many mediocre books available, it's a shame that Edna Hong's Bright Valley of Love [see the other reviews] is not being marketed. I have read parts of the book to students and both they and I are always moved by the grace and the tragedy of Gunther's story. Edna Hong's [who has translated Kierkegaard into English] book is too valuable to be out of print.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating story, October 30, 2008

By 

Peter R (Scotland, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bright Valley of Love (Paperback)

This story centres around Gunther, a German boy crippled from rickets during World War I, who is sent to Bethel, a Christian colony near Bielefeld, by his father and grandmother. It tells of his experiences and education, and his relationships with the other children; the emotional strains of entering adulthood; and the unique personalities of the pastors, including one bearded pastor who constantly plays hymns appropriate to the situation on the trumpet he carries around with him. There is a particularly moving episode about the death of Kurt, a severely epileptic child, at Christmas. Near the end is the account of how, during World War II, the leader of the community makes contact with Hitler's personal doctor and, while the community prays, spends hours eloquently giving reasons why the unique and responsive disabled children should be saved from death under the Nazis' economy plans; the doctor is sufficiently moved to exempt the community from extermination.

Well worth reading - my only reservation is how many of the minor incidents actually happened - the broader story is true, and Gunther was a real person who the author met, but the conversations are invented. But it's a very moving book and a good, thought-provoking read.