This is the love story of Michael Keddington and Faye Murrow, a love story that takes place not in seclusion but in the real world, with the challenges that all lovers must face. No relationship is an island: There are threads that bind us all and pull at our lives -- the demands of family, of friends, of work, and social obligation. And there are times that the pull of those threads becomes greater than the strength of the relationship. In these times, no matter how much two people love each other, a relationship must grow strong or be torn apart.
The Carousel is about what happens when life doesn't turn out the way that we planned. Beyond a love story, it is about faith, loyalty, and sacrifice.
My hope is that you, and those with whom you share this book, might find the message of this story meaningful and applicable to your own life.
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Michael Keddington and Faye Murrow are young lovers who marry on the eve of Faye's departure for medical school. While the bonds of matrimony and faith pull them together, the troubles of the real world do sunder: disapproving parents, work demands, distance, death, and an unplanned pregnancy. As in his earlier novel, The Christmas Box, nostalgia and emotion run unchecked, to the delight of most readers.
This is not the great American novel, but Evans never pretends that it is, he only hopes that you "might find the message of this story meaningful and applicable to your own life." If that is the standard, most readers should be satisfied.--Nancy R.E. O'Brien--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Richard Paul Evans When Richard Paul Evans wrote the #1 best-seller, The Christmas Box, he never intended on becoming an internationally known author.
Officially, he was an advertising executive, an award-winning clay animator for the American and Japanese markets, candidate for state legislature and most importantly, husband and father. The Christmas Box was written as an expression of love for his (then) two daughters. Though he often told them how much he loved them, he wanted to express his love in a way that would be timeless. In 1993, Evans reproduced 20 copies of the final story and gave them to his closest relatives and friends as Christmas presents. In the month following, those 20 copies were passed around more than 160 times, and soon word spread so widely that bookstores began calling his home with orders for it.
His quiet story of parental love and the true meaning of Christmas made history when it became simultaneously the #1 hardcover and paperback book in the nation. Since then, more than eight million copies of The Christmas Box have been printed. The Emmy award-winning CBS television movie based on The Christmas Box starred Maureen O'Hara and Richard Thomas. Two more of Evans's books were produced by Hallmark and starred such well-known actors as James Earl Jones, Vanessa Redgrave, Naomi Watts, Mary McDonough and Academy award winner Ellen Burstyn. He has since written 10 consecutive New York Times bestsellers and is one of the few authors in history to have hit both the fiction and non-fiction bestseller lists. He has won three awards for his children's books including the 1998 American Mothers book award and two first place Storytelling World awards. Evans's latest book, The 5 Lessons a Millionaire Taught Me About Life and Wealth, is now available.
Of his success, Evans says: "The material achievements of The Christmas Box will never convey its true success, the lives it has changed, the families brought closer together, the mothers and fathers who suddenly understand the pricelessness of their children's fleeting childhood. I share the message of this book with you in hopes that in some way, you might be, as I was, enlightened."
During the Spring of 1997, Evans founded The Christmas Box House International, an organization devoted to building shelters and providing services for abused and neglected children. Such shelters are operational in Moab, Vernal, Ogden and Salt Lake City, Utah and Lucre, Peru. To date, more than 16,000 children have been housed in Christmas Box House facilities.
As an acclaimed speaker, Evans has shared the podium with such notable personalities as President George W. Bush, President George and Barbara Bush, former British Prime Minister John Majors, Ron Howard, Elizabeth Dole, Deepak Chopra, Steve Allen, and Bob Hope. Evans has been featured on the Today show and Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Time, Newsweek, People, The New York Times, Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, USA Today, TV Guide, Reader's Digest, and Family Circle. Evans lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife, Keri, and their five children.
Each Fall I await two things--the turning of the leaves and a new book from Richard Paul Evans. The leaves are obvious, so I call around to make sure that Mr. Evans' new book is out, and am delighted when I find outthat it's time to buy it!
I bought one copy of THE CAROUSEL for myself, and 12 more to put away for holiday presents (no one is ever disappointed when they open up a gift and it's one of his books). The best treat is to have the time to sit down and read it all in one sitting--and this year I put aside a day to do justthat. Was that ever a good way to spend an afternoon/evening!
Once again, while reading one of his books, I laughed and I cried, and did it all over again. I came away from this book feeling a renewed faith in love. I looked around att hose I love and wanted to share so many emotions with them--and I did. I took extra time to tell my family I love them and have been thinking on ways I can be a better person.
This book is a great love story. The writing is beautiful, and I just wish there were more love stories with this much LOVE!!!
Thank you Mr. Evans for another great read!
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Several years ago, Richard Paul Evans became known for his book The Christmas Box. In this short novel we are presented with the story of an elderly woman and her devotion to her family. Shortly thereafter, Evans followed this book with two ore about this woman and family in Timepiece and The Letter. Again readers were regaled the spirit of loyal relationships and caring individuals.
Through the years and in future books, these values would become the benchmark of an Evans novel as they became a recurring theme. And this is certainly true of hsi most recent book, The Carousel. In this book we, as readers, learn more about Faye Morrow and Micheal Keddington whom we first met in The Locket. While The Carousel deals with loyalty, sacrifice, salvation and ultimately redemption, it is also a beautiful story of a great and abiding love between two people during a diffciult time. And while the storyline borders on sappy at times, the reader comes to love the characters of Michael, Faye, their friend Hallie and Sarah so much that even the predictable ending is overlooked.
I do suggest that others read and take to heart Evans's words and views especailly when they think life has little left to offer them.
And while it might be too late to purhcase this for the holdiay season of 2000, be sure and put it on your list for reader's for next year. It is perfect for the spirit of the holidays as are most of Richard Paul Evan's' books.
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I can't begin to explain how I just couldn't put this book down! I have read other books by Richard Paul Evans in the past, but this one touched my heart in places deeper than the other books seemed to go. I felt for Michael, in every instance, and felt myself rooting for him with each turn of the page. A must read and a great Christmas gift that truly captures the spirit of that season: Love.
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