Customer Reviews

Father Elijah: An Apocalypse

5 star:		(95)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I these days of the Left Behind series literary fiasco, it is refreshing to read a book that is not only theologically thoughtful, but extrememly well written and fascinating. There is an odd but effective mixture of horror mixed with remarkably deep Christian meaning in addition to adept social commentary. Anyone who takes Christianity seriously and who has a certain amount of introspection (which the Left Behind series does NOT appeal to) will love this series.

A warning to my fellow protestants: this book is unabashedly Catholic. If you are uncomfortable with minor Mary veneration and a greater focus on relics, you may sometimes be annoyed. However, given the reality of history, this is an accurate reflection on a Catholic approach to Christianity. Moreover, it does not fail at being Christocentric.

Read and enjoy!

I'll be honest. Apocalyptic literature has not been my number one interest. Much of what I've read in this genre has seemed to be unbelievable; relying overmuch on the "fantastic". "Father Elijah" is different. Very different.

Item: The author has a good grasp on the apocalyptic books of Scripture -- better, even, than many "Bible Christians".

Item: The author has a good grasp on the inner workings of the Church.

Item: The author has a good grasp of current events. Because of this, he is able to posit believable scenarios.

Item: The author has an excellent grasp of the human heart and soul; what it means to serve God; what it means to live in obedience; and what it means to be a priest.

Item: Finally, the author has an excellent grasp of God's overwhelming desire for the redemption of all His creation -- and the free will to choose to accept -- or deny -- the redemptive offering.

"Father Elijah" is a must read. I give it my hearty endorsement.

While I am not a Catholic, I can recognize great literature when I read it. I read this book and now I'm well into the whole series. The author offers great characters, solid plots, powerful descriptions of the real struggle between good and evil. It is a sad commentary that the fictional Left Behind series has done so well and few people know about this far better series. I suppose that as long as comic books out sell great books then this will happen, but I call for all lovers of fine literature to push the fluff stuff aside, put down the shallow and empty Left Behind hype and read some real literature!

Father Elijah Schaefer, Holocaust survivor and former Jew, is called out of his quiet contemplation by the Vatican, who seek to enlist his aid in determining the true intentions of a powerful European man known as the President. The Vatican suspects that this man may very well be the Antichrist, and sends Father Elijah on a mission: Determine the truth about the President, and if their worst fears prove to be realized, then attempt to bring him to repentance in order to delay the Great Tribulation and allow the salvation of as many souls as possible. Once inside the huddle of powerful men and women that surround the enigmatic leader, Elijah meets Anna Benedetti, a widow whose sharp intellect proves to be a match for his own. Soon, he finds himself drawn to this woman both intellectually and romantically, and finds his faith severely tested by the dying Count Smokrev, whose depravity seems to know no bounds. As he learns more about the real nature of the President, he finds a web of evil slowly closing around him, threatening all he holds dear. A stunning tale, richly plotted and layered with intelligent dialogue and a fervent, palpable faith; an urgent, apocalyptic story that is both politically and culturally viable and biblically accurate. Less literal than many other end-times novel, with fascinating, memorable characters, Father Elijah moves at a brisk pace, spurred by a strong plot and sound moral and spiritual elements familiar to all Christians; one doesn't have to be Catholic to recognize many of the themes presented here: faith, love, hope, redemption, spiritual warfare for the souls of humankind. Father Elijah is a wonderful protagonist, a man whose deep faith hides many scars from his former life, before the priesthood. His attraction to Anna is not a mere plot fabrication, but the natural outgrowth of a relationship that begins as intellectual camaraderie and grows into a deep and beautiful friendship. Anna is also fascinating, a humanistic counter to Elijah's fervent faith. They are alike, yet different; their debates and disagreements on humanity make for good reading, helping propel some of the slower sections of the book. Miracles and apparitions are commonplace, emanations of divine will that seem to come at random, yet are logical expressions of the plot and the ultimate direction that O'Brien wishes to take the story. The subplot involving the corrupt Count Smokrev is a story unto itself, a fascinating look at forgiveness and absolution. The book's theology, of course, is very Catholic, but Protestant readers will find familiar ground in the use of Revelations and the strong sense of divinely-inspired morality presented within. One may quibble with the occasional bits of evangelism employed by O'Brien, but mostly the book presents arguments (though debatable) that are theologically and biblically solid. Excellent work--like Walter Miller's "A Canticle for Liebowitz," a haunting book that will stay with me for a long time.

This is really the kind of book that the literate Christian has been looking for; far better than the fluffy Left Behind pabulum that pervades the Christian market. This book is far more than an apocalyptic thriller; it's an exploration of philosophy, theology, the problem of evil and suffering, with good historical perspective and psychological insight. Far more satisfying than anything published by LaHaye and Jenkins.

What a page turner this one is. A priest is called out of seclusion at a monastery by the Pope (a thinly disguised Pope John Paul II) for a spiritual mission. The book follows his re-entry into a world that has strayed far from the one he abandoned when he entered the monastery. The Count Smokerev section of the book is like a novelette within the novel and tells an unforgettable, beautiful story of sin and mercy and redemption. This book is an apocalypse. Not the apocalypse, but a fictional apocalypse. The ending in some ways is a little bit unsatisfactory in that the story is so compelling you want it to keep going on and on. A brilliant piece of fiction.

I did not like the look of this book. (Perhaps because I`m English) I am prejudiced about North American apocalyptic literature - religiosly and historically illiterate nonsense usually. And I didn`t like the dialogue as I skim-read the first few pages [actually I still don`t like a lot of the dialogue]. But the cover review from Stratford Caldecot and the fact that it camre from Ignatius won me over.
Thank God.
This is one of the most extraordinbary books written in recent decades. As Lewis said of THE LORD OF THE RINGS, this is lightning from a clear sky. Partly Dostoyevsky, partly Charles Williams or Lewis, imagine if you can a novel written by von Balthasar or Adrienne von Speyer. This in a way - though too difficult for most children - is the Catholic reply to Philip Pullman`s "war in Heaven" in HIS DARK MATERIALS. I want everyone I know to read this book.

Father Elijah is an accomplished piece of narrative writing. The author does a superb job of crafting the inner spiritual life of a contemporary priest/monk who is fully engaged in the great theological and moral issues of the 20th century. For all Christians (not only Roman Catholics) the narrative is a convincing portrayal of what it is like to live through a period of profound theological confusion, danger and apostasy. The crises created by modern Romanticism linked with philosophical monism are presented in a riveting suspense format. O'Brien helps us to see that these crises did not end with the fall of Nazism in WWII but rather have become endemic in the culture of Western Europe, Russian and the United States. And makes bid to extend its grip to the rest of the world. Described by some as the 'Culture of Narcissism', O'Brien details its inherently totalitarian character. This story has made me a fan of Michael O'Brien and his fresh perspective on our times. He enters a pantheon of writers--including Flannery O'Connor, Walker Percy, and G.K. Chesterton and C.S. Lewis--from whom I have derived literary pleasure and spiritual sustenance. My wife was enthralled with Father Elijah and she commends it to everyone she speaks to!

Jim Woods

A deeply enjoyable, thought-provoking book. Insightful, simply-written, intelligent. At times disturbing. You will likely regard this as among the best fiction books in your library. If not quite "literature," Father Elijah is a world beyond popular novels. Steeped in Catholic thought and orthodoxy, the tale helped me, a Protestant evangelical Christian, better understand my Catholic friends. This book unfailingly exalts Christ. Bravo, Mr. O'Brien.

Father Elijah takes place in the present/near-future. Two of the Vatican characters are based on Cardinal Ratzinger and Pope John Paul II (may he rest with Christ), but are not directly mentioned by name, to create a sense of urgency in the novel.

I recommend reading this book in addition to O'brien's other books, Strangers and Sojourners, Plague Journal, and Eclipse of the Sun. The latter two take place around the same time as Father Elijah (also, be sure to read the books in the order I listed). The reason you should do this is because, since some parts of Father Elijah seem farfetched, these other books, especially PJ and EOTS, help make more sense and reality of these bizarre parts.

All of these books are "page turners" but are also intellectual and capture well the human spirit (several times, I felt like the characters' descriptions, usually in their vices, could have also been for me).

There is also an underlying theme of the importance of the elderly shown in Father Elijah and the pope, and also in the character of Fr. Andrei in S&S, PJ, and EOTS.

Michael O'brien, in well-written prose, brings forth the glory and spirituality of the Catholic Church.