Desert Fire: A Novel [Paperback]

Shannon Van Roekel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 22, 2009

A straight-from-the-headlines novel revealing God's love in the midst of horrific conflict and personal turmoil

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Personal turmoil amid horrific conflict-these are the elements of a career-making headline. . . and a journey toward healing

On assignment in Darfur, journalist Julia Keegan is determined to open the eyes of average Americans to the atrocities taking place there-and to distance herself from the dark shadow cast by her father, a man she's never really known. So when Joel Maartens, her father's young lawyer, shows up in Sudan, Julia is completely unprepared to respond. She has steeled herself against the horrors of genocide, but she isn't prepared to face her own past.

As Joel's and Julia's lives are redefined by the injustice and violence around them, both are forced to face truths they would rather leave concealed. Fighting for justice is no easy task, but learning to forgive in the face of hatred may be the resolution that Joel and Julia both desperately need.

About the Author

Shannon Van Roekel has volunteered on the mission field in both Africa and Mexico and much of this novel is influenced by her experiences. She published works in Guideposts 4 Teens and The Upper Room and now lives with her husband and five children in British Colombia. Find out more at www.shannonvr.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Publications (September 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0825439221
• ISBN-13: 978-0825439223
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,817,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DESERT FIRE by SHANNON VAN ROEKEL, December 17, 2009

By 

Lorraine Larose (Mapleville, RI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Desert Fire: A Novel (Paperback)

A journalist, Julia Keegan, was sent to Darfur to find out what's going on so she could write about the violence and genocide going on in all the villages.

While she was there, a young attorney named Joel Marteens, shows up with information about her father who died in prison while serving a long sentence.
Julia didn't want to hear about her father because she never knew him, she was
very bitter about it and could not forgive him.

At the end she learned how to forgive because of close friends she met while on assignment in Danfur and finally found peace.

This book would be a great gift for everyone on your list because it has something
that everyone can relate to. It's truly a wonderful read.

Lorraine

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, though a bit predictable, October 29, 2009

By 

Melissa (Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Desert Fire: A Novel (Paperback)

Journalist, Julia Douglas, spent her life believing her father was a monster. She spent her childhood moving from town to town trying to escape the murder he committed. Her life and career were molded by his crime and her anger towards him always burned. Her past has led her to strive to notify readers of injustices, and it is this drive that brought her to Darfur, in order highlight the atrocities funded and carried out by its government. While in Sudan, she encounters Joel Maartens, her father's lawyer. Joel traveled from Canada in order to deliver a letter from her now deceased father. Not wanting to reconnect with that portion of her past, Julia struggles to accept a new, conflicting view of her father. In this most unlikely setting, a country torn by violence and government backed genocide, Julia begins to better understand her past as well as heal from years of bitterness and anger.

There are certain books that I begin feeling pretty certain I'll know the basic story line. I choose to read them because there's usually something about the premise that pulls at me. For Desert Fire, the attraction came from the setting. I've read the horror stories on the news concerning the atrocities taking place in Darfur. The stories are often graphic, depicting rape and mutilation that is hard to comprehend. So a story that took a peek into this world was one well worth trying.

As expected, the story line was predictable. There were no surprises. Most of the imaginary plot was very typical for Christian fiction with a salvation message. Since Desert Fire featured two lost souls, Julia and Joel, we get a double dose of witnessing and prayer. I'm a fan of more subtle messages in fiction, but I was expecting this type of presentation before I started reading and was therefore not disappointed at the amount included in the story.

The book's high point was in presenting information about the situation in Darfur. Complete with two pages of actual drawings from children in Darfur, there is a sense for the violence that permeates their world. I do wish this part was bit more graphic. This was the heart of the story and while we get a feel for life in Sudan, there isn't that ache that should be present after reading this type of book. I wanted to cry for the families in this horrible situation and feel moved as I do when reading individual accounts from other sources, but that never happened. Maybe it was sanitized in an effort to cater to more sensitive readers, but this was one book that needed to be graphic. What is happening in Darfur needed to be spelled out with brutal honesty that Christians should be able to handle. Ignorance is not bliss in this instance, it's an enemy.

The fictional part of the story was alright, but as previously stated there were no surprises. I did appreciate how Van Roekel managed to subtly make Julia's father a supporting character. While his only living appearance is very brief, he's in the shadows throughout the book. It was a nice touch that brought insight into how those around us shape us, for better or worse.

Though the fiction was typical, I still highly recommend Desert Fire, especially for anyone not familiar with the events happening in Darfur. This book is not a light read, but given the subject matter, it is not overwhelming either. I appreciate Van Roekel writing this story and for the attention she gives to a portion of the world that truly needs it. Hopefully her story will encourage Christians to pray for and assist those who are living and dying of starvation, disease, and genocide in Sudan.

2.0 out of 5 stars ., July 16, 2010

By 

Christy Leigh Stewart "Good Mourning Sunshine" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Desert Fire: A Novel (Paperback)

Not a bad book, per se, the plot and premise is good but it is a little too stilted and the scope a little narrow.