Customer Reviews

Fallen: A Novel

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What a tangled web I read. ..Wow.

Fallen grabbed me immediately and did not let go until the final silken strand. Matthew Raley has written a book that may need to become part of seminary curriculum. Maybe Fallen should be required reading for elder or deacon boards. Without heavy discussions regarding theological ideology, or overwhelming use of scripture, Raley manages to wind the reality of truth around cheap grace, religiousity, legalism, licentiousness, grace, forgiveness and accountability. And pride gets the life sucked out of it.

Two male characters from different circumstances and generations interact with affection, wariness, concern and pain. I found myself agonizing with Raley's main character ,Jim while he got more entangled with his own thoughts as well as the series of facts and perceived realities. I have been Jim, and I dare say I've been a Dave.

I know many will think this is a story about dangerous pastors, but don't miss the point that wound its way around my heart. Our lives are woven and God doesn't miss a stitch. He'll use whatever means to make sure my life is one that glorifies Him. No matter how painful or costly, God will shape the ones He loves and died for.

This story is overtly Christian. But with an honest look at religion vs. relationship and enough mind games to entice readers who don't claim Christianity but love cat and mouse games. I'd suggest it to anyone who has ever been burned in church politics, too.

Raley is a new author to watch. I'm looking forward going to get my hands on his next novel. I hope it will be soon.

Note: Do a Google search for this book because it went through a blog tour. Some didn't like it quite as much as I did and a few didn't even finish it. My opinion is subjective, of course, and I happen to love very introspective reads, especially if they are well-written. Chances are if you have enjoyed other books I've loved, then you will likely eat Fallen up. But if you are drawn toward breathtaking action or bodice ripping romance...maybe not so much.

Fallen is a thought-provoking, page-turning novel that will cause you to see things differently by book's end. As with peeling an onion, layer after layer of deception is removed as the cover is stripped away and the truth is exposed. The insight this author has is impressive.

The process of uncovering the truth will make you question things. Sticking with your convictions may be unpopular, but what is more important, stating the truth or allowing sin to continue? It's hard to say much more about this story because I don't want my review to be a spoiler for the reader, but I can say that Fallen truly exposes the darkest places in a man's heart. It also helps you to see that sometimes Christians have ulterior motives based more on pride than Christ.

You'll never see accountability in the same light after reading this book. It's truly sad how warped things can get and how easily deceived people can be. But in the end, if you allow God to expose the sin in your heart, and you are willing to follow his lead, change is possible. But humility is a key ingredient, because if you don't think you've sinned then you have nothing to confess, right? This book will blow your mind and stretch your thinking, trust me. I especially appreciated how the author used the situation to make Jim see how he'd hurt his own family and how he used that knowledge for the benefit of the people he loved.

Fallen by Matthew Raley is a surprisingly good read. Jim, a banker and chairman of his church, sees his pastor, Dave, getting out of a strange woman's Mercedes. First, Jim weighs the pros and cons of talking to Dave about appearances and propriety, then when the bombs start dropping, he has to decide not only what to do about Dave and the church, but also has to re-evaluate his own life and faith. This book started out a little slow for me, Jim does an inordinate amount of internalizing. But as he started making choices, the plot moved forward rapidly, and when I finished reading, I was stunned by the depth and honesty of Raley's writing. The story is told in an almost steady stream of consciousness from Jim's point of view, and as he remembers lessons he's learned, he educates the reader (gently) as well. The themes Fallen addresses: the superficiality of churches, fallen leaders, the fake self we show to the world have been addressed in other books, but rarely with this amount of punch-you-in-the-gut frankness. Jim realizes through seeing Dave's sins that he is equally as guilty of living a lie. He presents a face for the world to see that isn't who he is on the inside. When the mask slips, especially in front of his family, he feels threatened and attacks. The kind of Christianity that Jim (and Raley) embraces at the end is frightening in its authenticity. No masks, no pretenses, just true compassionate, loving Christianity that isn't afraid to talk about sin and death. Raley took my breath away as he took the verse Romans 3:10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one. This book is a wake up call to reject the false Christianity that's easy to embrace and turn to genuine faith that lives each and every day knowing that we are fallen and are only saved by the grace of God.

This was a wonderful and well written book. It deals with everyday and sad occurences in a church. It tells that we are human and that Jesus only can give forgiveness

I have never really struggled to write a review before, but then I've never read a book like Fallen before. The plot is simple, really. Jim, the chairman of his church, sees their Pastor Dave in a Mercedes with a strange woman. Jim must decide if he should confront Dave with the impropriety of the action or trust that Dave would never knowingly do the wrong thing. Jim agonizes over the decision, waffling between confronting Dave or letting it go, letting the decision consume him.

It is right here, at this simple point, that I was hooked.

Why, you ask? How could such a simple idea hook me? Because the very struggle that Jim embarks on is sadly a struggle lacking in our churches today. But you say again, why? Why would I want to find a struggle in the church? Because sin doesn't exist in a vacuum. It does
n't pass over our churches. Our very nature as sinful beings guarantees that sin is present everywhere we go, but not all men or women in positions of authority in today's churches are willing to hold their Pastor or each other accountable for their sins. It is easier to assume that the Pastor's heart is good, that he has the best interest of his flock motivating his decisions than to think he might have sinned. And in the case of Fallen, not only sinned but very cleverly and decidedly covered it up.


Author Matthew Raley, does an excellent job of bringing this issue before us in an entertaining format. The book reads fast and moves quickly even though most of the book is spent in dialogue between Jim and Dave, with little action to drive the pace. It is in this dialogue, that Raley gives the reader a chance to grasp the incredible personal cost that Jim faces as he moves forward in this battle to reveal Dave's sin. It also gives the reader a chance to witness a strong commitment to doing the right thing, but a commitment that in the end becomes all powerful and takes over Jim's best intentions and reveals Jim's sins as well. It's what Jim does when he realizes that he too has sinned that brings this story full circle. That I will not tell you, as I've spoiled enough of the story already.

In my reviews, I recommend many Christian fiction titles because they are well written and enjoyable to read. Many have minimal lessons to be learned but further the spread of the Gospel by encouraging those who don't have a personal relationship with Jesus to simply pick up the book and maybe begin asking questions. Then there are a few that cause me to really delve into my Christian walk and examine my heart. Fallen is such a book. I found the theme of sin in our church to be so true to what I know exists in today's churches, that at times I had to put it down, yet it was so compelling that I had to pick it back up and finish it.

What more could you want from a Christian book? Pick up a copy today, you won't be disappointed.

The office of "Church Elder" does not typically bring to mind images of cloak and dagger operations and political intrigue. But Matthew Raley's "Fallen" taps into the upheaval, deception and doctrinally-charged interpersonal fights that can surface in churches when sinful human natures clash with Biblical commands. I never thought I could learn so much about church leadership by reading a work of fiction.

A fun and captivating page-turner, "Fallen" offers a refreshing literary retreat from both the doctrinal treatises of the likes of John MacArthur (I'm a big fan), and lighter fare `flavor-of-the-week' books on Christian living. This narrative by Pastor Matthew Raley teaches while it entertains, providing the escape of a good story -- complete with a believable plotline and well-developed characters -- while at the same time challenging us to consider our own beliefs about church leadership and what it means to obey God.

Throughout the entire story I was intrigued and taught by the straightforward and methodical approach to life exhibited by the story's mundane hero, "Jim," who as chair of his church's board of trustees painfully assembles not only the scandalous actions of his pastor, but also the hidden, godless doctrines underlying them. The huckster's milk toast approach to such core Christian doctrines as sin, purity, truthfulness and fidelity lead him to run headlong after wicked vanities while maintaining a pastoral facade. The plot thickens for Jim when his fellow trustees decide that keeping the peace in his church and not rocking the boat is more important than divulging the truth about their pastor's tangled web of lies to the congregation.

Raley's own brilliant insights into the thought patterns of present-day American Evangelicals are expressed through the commendable, first-person observations of the story's protagonist, contrasted against the woeful semi-convictions of the shallow pastor. Complete with a casual approach to ministry and post-modern indifference to Law, "Pastor Dave" embodies all the irreverent crowd-pleasing antics and personal licentiousness that have become commonplace in churches today.

"Fallen" shows us just how easily a church pastor might abuse his position and even justify the actions with unbiblical, man-centered doctrines. It also vividly displays the dire consequences on churches, families and friendships that similar breaches of trust can have in the real world.

This book is a must for any Christian who appreciates theology, but sometimes just needs to decompress with a fun and captivating novel. For my part, I have always recognized the value of non-fiction theology books and have studied a fair number of them. At the end of the day, however, my favorite books have all been stories with good character development and substantive plot lines. "Fallen" accomplishes all objectives, making it a truly original, insightful and entertaining read.

The premise of Fallen is a simple one. Jim, a long time church member and chairman of the church board sees his Dave, his young, married pastor in a vehicle with another woman. He asks his pastor what is going on, and what he finds leads him to dig deeper into the matter. What he uncovers however is not so simple. It leads not only to the exposure of beliefs that subtly undermine the orthodoxy of Christianity but also to an investigation of areas of personal weakness in Jim's own life.

Author Matthew Raley has written this book from inside of Jim's head, which is an unusual point of view for an author to take. As a result, much of this book is cerebral - readers spend a lot of time walking through Jim's thought processes, through his voyage of discovery, through the logic he uses to determine if the actions of his pastor were justified.

There is a lot of dialogue as Jim and Dave dance around each other. Dave attempts to stand his ground and keep his standing while Jim jabs at Dave and attempts to uncover areas of weakness. This was a bit harder to follow than your average novel because so much of what is happening is verbal and mental.

The action in this novel also takes place over a very short period of time and it all revolves around the process of discovery, the process of dealing with the aftermath, negotiating the church politics (Raley is a senior pastor himself, so this is realistic writing).

All that said, Fallen isn't written in the style of a typical novel. It is more of a voyage of discovery and exploration within the realm of Christian norms and orthodoxy with a splash of personal revelation thrown in. It won't be for everyone - I'm not even sure it was entirely for me - but it was an interesting read, and a bit of an unexpected one at that.

I read this book before it hit the bookshelves in January 2008. It isn't the same ole, same ole rhyme. This is more of a psychological thriller than a discourse on infidelity. It is more of a what-would-you-do, than a diatribe.

This is a rare and most delicious find. If you like twists and turns in the story you read... if you like believable and very human characters... if you love stories that you can't put down, but when you have to you can't wait to pick back up again... if you like stories that you think about every moment you are away from it and stories that leave you completely satisfied for at least a little while...

...Then Fallen is the book for you.

Two years after I read it, and I'm still thinking about it. You won't be able to put it down and it is absolutely one of the most human and completely believable stories I have ever read. It is charming. It is fascinating. It is indelible. Order it or download it on Kindle, I promise you won't regret it. You'll be writing me and thanking me for telling you about it.

Jim was at work when his eyes drifted to the coffee shop visible from his office window. An attractive woman driving a Mercedes pulled up to the curb, and Jim's married pastor emerged from the car. When Jim delves deeper into his pastor's world, will he be able to handle what he discovers? Is he right to suspect that Dave is having an affair? Is Dave having an affair?

In the behind-the-scenes church battle that ensues, Jim is torn between duty to his church and a desire to show grace. A ripped-from-the-headlines drama of suspense that keeps you engaged to the last page. Fallen is the story about Jim's relationship with Dave--how Jim tries to do the right thing to keep Dave accountable. Is that the right thing to do? Read it and see.

... but it was superb just the same. It was not a suspense novel, nor a thriller, not a mystery or a who-done-it, most definitely not sci-fi or fantasy and it doesn't even fall into the page-turner category and as I said it's not my style of book. In fact I purchased this book two years ago and it's been sitting on my to-be-read-shelf but I never seemed to have the desire to read it. It is however the epitome of what Christian fiction should be about... changing lives. It was very well written, keeping my interest from the first page through the last. The entire book is basically conversation, mainly between the main character Jim and his pastor Dave. There are a few changes to break things up a bit but no action or much movement of any kind. The story is written from Jim's perspective and we learn about ourselves by seeing through his eyes. What would we do if we saw our pastor in the car with an attractive woman we did not know? It starts there and just mushrooms into a complicated and major thought-provoking tale that will pierce the reader deep into their marrow.

If I lived in California I'd go to Matthew Raley's church. The man must have a great understanding of the human condition. I was thoroughly impressed with this book and hope to read more from Matthew. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy. You won't be disappointed.

1 Star = Pathetic
2 Stars = Fair
3 Stars = Good
4 Stars = Excellent
5 Stars = Life changing

I have seen this book on the shelf for the past few months, but I picked it up yesterday and boy am I glad I did.

Fallen for me was an uncomfortable, yet riveting look in not only how sin affects our lives, but the consequences and awkwardness that comes when we try to keep each other accountable. It took me only a few seconds to get sucked into the painful, mental labyrinth that the main character goes through as he wrestles with how to deal with a delicate, disturbing situation his pastor has created. Accountability is an absolutely necessity, but I've found it can quickly become as confusing and difficult for counselor as the counselee.

The books makes a myriad of well-thought out points about marriage, intimacy, sin, salvation, confidentiality, accountability, reconciliation, parenting, communication, and I'm sure a few other thing I missed after one reading.

My only complaint is that the story seemed too personal and allegorical to be completely fictional. I would have preferred the book to have an addendum where the author directly talks about the issues or situations that caused him to write such a compelling book.

I think most of us are aware how damaging and heart-breaking leadership gone wrong can be. And none of us want to join that trend.