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39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Has Bridget Jones Met Jay Jarvis?, June 2, 2003
Okay, I've just gotta know...Who came up with this breezy cover and its light-hearted title hinting at all things zany? Give that person a raise! I was captivated before even reading the premise. Then, thankfully, the premise looked promising as well. I mean, how can you resist a tongue-in-cheek, fictitious look at singles and dating and church and life and the serendipitous ways in which they all come together? Ray Blackston's irreverent ideas and the publisher's presentation had me thoroughly hooked. But--and here's the crunch--could Mr. Blackston's writing live up to the hype? Ha, I laugh at your doubt. This book had me chuckling, shaking my head, wiping a tear from my eye, and jotting down quotable quotes all within 327 pages. Let me tell you, these pages fly by, blown by the summer air that permeates the story, and by Blackston's lighthearted style. In the midst of sharing Jay Jarvis' struggles to meet women and know God, Blackston communicates marvelous insights while never banging us over the head. This is a book I'd give to my male friends. And to my wife. And to our single friends. And...well, hey, why not send a copy to my mother-in-law. She'll love me for it--and brownie points with the in-laws are always welcome. Bottom line: "Flabbergasted" is a comic and wise peek into the ways that God works in our lives, leaning heavily on the romance side of things. Never sappy, though. Remember, this is from a guy's point of view. If Bridget Jones ever met Jay Jarvis, there'd be all kinds of havoc. Thankfully, Jay's in love with someone else. Read the book and you'll know what being "Flabbergasted" is all about. Then, if you're like me, you'll be waiting for the promised sequel.
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27 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wild, imaginative, lime green ride!, March 13, 2004
"Flabbergasted" is one of the most quirky, interesting stories I have ever read. I cannot recall having laughed so much or so hard while reading a book since the last time I read one of Erma Bombeck's books. Jay Jarvis is a single, eligible, stock-broker bachelor who has just recently moved to Greenville, South Carolina. Not interested in church other than to meet eligible bachelorettes, Jay meets the girl of his dreams, Allie, on his first visit to North Hills Presbyterian Church. Unfortunately for Jay, Allie is not easy to get to know. Jay will embark on a strange journey domniated by the color lime green, a row of numericals, a less-than-punctual preacher, a pirouette of the gospel, and a multi-hour ride into the Ecudorian jungle. As Jay learns more about Allie and who she is, he will learn about who He is. "Flabbergasted" is a Christian, coming-to-the-Lord novel. However, this is not your normal salvation tale. Ray Blackston, in his first book, has created a wild and imaginative story that will have you laughing, keep you guessing, and make it difficult for you to put down.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Prepare to be flabbergasted!, September 13, 2003
By A Customer
With colorful cast of quirky characters and a plot that is full of surprises, "Flabbergasted" is truly the feel-good novel of the year. It tells the tale of Jay Jarvis, a young stockbroker who moves from his hometown of Dallas to the unfamiliar Greenville, South Carolina, and decides one day to go to a local church to meet chicks and starts attending the church's singles ministry meetings. It is there that he meets a fascinating young missionary named Allie, as well as a number of other interesting characters, who completely turn Jay's life upside-down. Together they share many adventures which leave them, as well as the reader, truly flabbergasted! I just finished reading this book, and I'm really glad I took the time to read it, considering I rarely ever have time to read for pleasure. This book not only made me laugh, but made me think about life and faith and left me with a really good, satisfying feeling when I was finished. Although it did get a little boring at some times, you just couldn't help but keep reading, wondering what would happen next. This was Ray Blackston's first novel, and I'm so glad he took the leap of faith to leave the security his old job and start writing (a method which he does not recommend to the "faint of heart"); from the looks of "Flabbergasted", I think this could be the start of a great career for him. I'm already looking forward to more books by him in the future; word has it that he's already working on a sequel, and you can be sure I'll be among the first in line to read it!
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