Customer Reviews

Growing Up on the Edge of the World (The Chronicles of Grace, Book 1)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I couldn't help laughing when I read the review stating that humor is out of place in a Christian novel. Hello! I enjoyed this book immensely. In fact, I took it to the bathtub with me intending to read the first few pages and ended up reading the first six chapters! The very cornerstone of this book is that God loves the unlovely, forgives the unforgiveable, and redeems lost souls like me! Grace is the theme. The writing is excellent. I'll be buying more copies.

I don't often read fiction, though I teach writing and lit. And I have only read a handful of "Christian novels" over the past decade. This one attracted me because of its wonderfully-illustrated cover and fascinating story line. How does a boy who is raised in a quaint little evangelical church deal with a huge temptation, ongoing mischief and misdeads without losing his mind, his conscience, and his faith. The answer comes through one of the best stories I have ever read. One that is filled with fall-down funny characters and a dozen or two nice plot twists. I'm ashamed to say that rarely do you find this level of writing in Christian literature, let alone Christian fiction. It is slightly reminiscent of Jan Karon's novels, though far more humorous. The author is to be commended for carefully crafting each sentence and paragraph to draw the story onward. My only complaint is that it wasn't a little longer (285 pages wasn't quite enough). I plan on recommending this to my college literature class. In fact, we will begin studying it shortly.

I loved this book, but am not as great with words as others. Here's a rather well-balanced review I read on the internet from a reviewer by the name of Phil Wade

Terry Anderson, the twelve-year-old narrator of this book, lives in a comical family, which, if they weren't fictional, would go toward proving that comedy comes out of pain. His mother deteriorates slowly from an incurable disease. His father makes little money as a mechanic. His oldest brother smokes, perpetually trying to quit and feeling cold shoulders from their legalistic church.

None of that works to build Terry's ego, but neither do his own decisions. So when Terry discovers a jackpot which could turn his hard, North Dakota winter into one long Christmas, he does what any pre-teen might do. He fills his pockets with candy and lies about the money. Of course, the longer he delays his confession, the more trouble risks.

Speaker and Author Phil Callaway is a humor-monger, who has written non-fiction on laughter and Christian living. Thus, this book is funny. Not Wodehouse funny, but light-hearted, warm, and occasionally funny enough to laugh out loud. The back cover boasts of colorful characters, and they do raise their heads here and there, but more interesting than Mayberry-style locals are the fine, upstanding hypocrites who attend Anderson's church. Callaway doesn't refrain from briefly describing a few people whose spiteful whispers surprised me in their indifference to the pain of fellow believers who were in the room though out of earshot.

Some heavy-handed application does sneak in. The town is named Grace because the story is about grace. There's even a little story to the town's naming-pioneers, Indians, and a miracle, you know. But Growing Up is an enjoyable book which should find a good audience. Callaway says he is working on a sequel.

The eight people in our reading group chose this as our book for the month of June and we have been engaged in fascinating conversations about our growing up years as a result. We even wrote the author and he kindly sent us discussion questions. I have never read a book twice before, but I will be reading this one for a third time at the beach this summer. The memories it evokes are worth savoring, laughing at, and sometimes crying over. This receives my highest recommendation!

I don't often read fiction, though I teach writing and lit. And I have only read a handful of "Christian novels" over the past decade. This one attracted me because of its wonderfully-illustrated cover and fascinating story line. How does a boy who is raised in a quaint little evangelical church deal with a huge temptation, ongoing mischief and misdeads without losing his mind, his conscience, and his faith. The answer comes through one of the best stories I have ever read. One that is filled with fall-down funny characters and a dozen or two nice plot twists. I'm ashamed to say that rarely do you find this level of writing in Christian literature, let alone Christian fiction. The author is to be commended for carefully crafting each sentence. My only complaint is that it wasn't a little longer (285 pages wasn't quite enough). I plan on recommending this to my college literature class. In fact, we will begin studying it shortly.

This is simply put the very best novel I have read in years! I am so excited to pass it along to family and friends. I have never read a book which combines so much humor, adventure, romance, and suspence with an unmistakable lesson of God's love and grace. This is truly a gem. Terry Anderson, the hero of the book, cannot help remind you of the child you always wanted to be or the friend you always wanted to have. Strangely, as Terry gives in to the temptation offered him, you find yourself wanting him to do the right thing, yet dreading that he will. The author has masterfully woven a story that continues its mischievous path for as long as the reader can stand, and until we are glad he chooses to turn from his own way. That is a delicate balance, but it is achieved here. I shall be checking out Callaway's non-fiction work for sure.

I had never heard of this author before, so when my daughter was raving about this book, I was sceptical. Then my wife started reading it and couldn't put it down, so I thought I'd give it a try. Sure enough, the introduction hooked me and never let me go. This message of grace has literally changed me. Just ask my wife and daughter. I'd love to see this book at the top of every bestseller list in America! I just bought eight copies to give to friends, so I guess that's a start.

I don't give out five stars easily, but Phil Callaway earned every bit of it with this big-hearted story. Callaway hits the nail on the head in his descriptions of small town life, the changing evangelical church of the seventies, and the growing pains of a junior-high-age boy. The story moves effortlessly back and forth between the lighthearted and the serious. At the end, we see a moving picture of God's grace and what it means for us. Everyone will be able to identify with something in this story, and many may find that their outlook on life has been changed by reading it.

This is really the most fun I've had reading a book in years. The author is to be commended. I'll definitely be checking out his other titles. Some of the humor was a little over the top, but it's amazing how such a funny writer can also make you cry. Haven't had that happen before. Overall, a very very good book. Can't think of one I've enjoyed so much, except possibly one of Grisham's novels.

In the winter of his 12th year, spindly, timid Terry Anderson gets the wish of his life. He gets...well, I shouldn't really say it without giving away too much. But let me put it this way, he finally gets what he has always wanted, only to find out that what he's longed for is much more trouble than he could have ever imagined. There's romance here, nostalgia, humor, and the kind of raw emotion that is missing from every work of fiction I've tried to plod through. There was not plodding here, let me assure you. I read this book too fast, then went back to savor it a little more slowly. If you grew up in the church, this will make you howl. If you didn't, it will make you wish you did, and determine that your offspring get the chance. The author hints that he'll be publishing a few more of these books on the Anderson family. I can't wait.