Customer Reviews

The Heavenly Village

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Cynthia Rylant has a way with words that reflects her background in poetry. Readers who enjoyed Dog Heaven and Cat Heaven will hear a similar musical tone to her words here. She gives us several examples of individuals who are spending some time in a kind of way station between earth and heaven where they have the opportunity to sort out a few things left undone or unfinished in their lives. Rylant's simple, eloquent prose evokes a warmth and reassurance about what comes next, in a way that will offer comfort to children concerned about mortality. Even my six year old found The Heavenly Village gave her some answers to several of her questions! Highly recommended, and not just for kids.

This book was such a treasure to read! The short, easy prose was like honey to my heart. But the content was beautiful as well. Ms Rylant has portrayed the hereafter sensibly, biblically and very lovingly. We got this from our library, but I plan to buy several copies for gifts, and to keep. This is one of those books that will be better with each subsequent reading!

This book helps make sense for people dealing with the unexpected loss of a loved one. The book is extremely good for children and adults alike. It is simple and not haughty or deeply theological. It is a quick easy read whose philosophy can be interpreted at both the child and adult levels. The book helped me realize that death need not be the big monster in the closet that no one wants to talk about. Death, by this book's definition, is a natural progression, even if it comes early in one's life. The end is yet just another beginning.

This book gave me a good feeling when i read it. It is all about the Heavenly Village, the place in between heaven and earth. The author tells you about each person who lives there and their story. The reason the people are in the heavenly village is because they are waiting. Some are waiting for their sons, some are waiting for their cats, and some just aren't ready for life in heaven yet. This is a very nnice book and I would reccomend it to anyone who likes to think pleasant thoughts.

Rylant uses her unique idea about life after death and discusses how some people get a second chance because they might not be ready for heaven. It was very comforting to think of the people in the Heavenly Village coming back to earth to visit until they were ready to move on. I think that it is a little sophisticated for younger readers, but it might capture the attention of an older reader. You get from this book the sense that death is a subject you don't have to avoid.

My nine year old daughter brought this book home from her school library and passed it on to me after she read it. I read it in less than an hour and it made me cry at the end. I like to think that there really is such a place! The tear jerker for me was when God visits the potter and he's just a little shy about bothering him so late at night while he's working. I never thought of God as being shy. I'm going to buy a few copies for gifts and myself!

I loved this book! I myself am not 9-12, but I know any age would love this book. It is beatiful written with well-rounded characters and stories. It helps explain what happens to those people that are not quite ready for heaven and does it in such a creative way. I recommend this short, but great, book to anyone. This book also helped me to really think about my values and Christian ideas, which I think is a very important thing to do in life. Rylant writes this for all ages and it is apparent because all ages can relate to subject. I am so glad I picked up this book because I wil never forget its powerful message.

This book is the most amazing help for young children I have ever had the pleasure of reading. My 6 year old grandson lost 2 grandparents in 6 months. After reading this book to him, he no longer had worries or bad dreams. He happily explains to his friends that Gramma and Grandpa are in the Heavenly Village with his cat and are very happy. I've bought 4 copies now for other young friends.

This is an almost perfect book, grand of sentiment with good theology, too.

'It is said that when people die, they travel to a place of Perfect Happiness, a place of Complete Ecstasy, a place called Heaven.
And most do.'

Cynthia Rylant has constructed a wonderful little story rich in meaning and feeling, designed for children but wonderful for adults, touching and sad, helpful and hopeful, giving an account of those who are not quite ready for heaven.

'These are the people who have unfinished business, who can't remain on earth, but aren't ready to let go and fly to heaven.
God calls them His homebodies.
And because He is God and will provide all that anyone ever needs on earth and in heaven, God has made for His homebodies a special stopping place, a wayside, a small pull-over on the way to Perfect Happiness.
It is called The Heavenly Village.'

This is a place for reluctant spirits, the woman who died young, but still had a runner's spirit; the timid baker Violet who was afraid for her cats, who learned in the village that she was loved after all; the man who accidently hit Violet with his car, and couldn't let go of her death; the potter who, in his craft, came close to emulating God so much that God asked him to remain in the village making pottery.

Here we learn ideas of time and space, love and loss, family, relationship, importance and trivialities. This book glows with spirit, as we follow in simple but such special ways those who need to finish their stories.

We learn that Violet is waiting for her cats before going on. What a wonderful idea, that our pets go with us! We as adults think that children will find this touching, but as an adult, I can testify that it won't be heaven for me without my cats. 'The cats are all actually doing quite well. The woman who rented the apartment to Violet Rose was so brokenhearted when the young girl died that she decided to keep all the cats herself and let them stay in the apartment. The woman lives downstairs so it's easy for her to check up on them. She leaves the back bedroom window slightly open, so they can come and go. The cats are all right. They have each other. And cats are not the worriers most people are. They seem to understand they'll see Violet Rose again. Any second now.'

We learn that the landlady kept the apartment vacant for Violet's cats. We also learn that the restaurant owner who employed Violet had a painting commissioned in her honour. These people loved Violet. 'Violet Rose is so surprised by all this. She didn't know, really, that people cared about her. It makes her happy.'

I wish I had time and space (and the right!) to put the whole story here. I can't remember the last time a children's book delighted me such that I laughed and cried so much in one sitting. Rylant's sensitivity to her characters and their special needs in the eyes of God and the world (and themselves) is a wonder.

If I could give ten stars, I would.

I will be using this book at the retirement centre to discuss unfinished business, and the love of God toward all of us, finished or not (and who isn't). This book will work for educating children and adults.

I was given this book as an ordination gift, by a priest who said that (given that my library already has most major and many minor theologies) this was a book most needed for the collection, and she was correct. Not a book I would ordinarily pick up, this has been one of the richest reading experiences I have had in years.

God comes to visit his potter friend in his shop late at night, the best time to work on pottery.

'While they sleep, there is a steady sound, a constant hum, a soft flowing rhythm in the air. It comes from the edge of town. A young potter is placing God's hands on the wheel and the wheel is spinning round.'

And this is why God has created a special place for his homebodies to keep "half heart on earth and half in heaven".
God has created a place for his homebodies called The Heavenly Village. God's homebodies are second-guessing themselves about going straight to heaven. His homebodies didn't finish their story on earth. This comforting and well-written story by Cynthia Rylant has a great moral -enjoy things while you have them and to live life fully.

Cynthia Rylant has a way of writing in this book that you have such a great picture in your mind when you read this fictional story you get a comfortable feeling that everything is going to be ok. Cynthia Rylant has also written Missing May and The Blue Hill Meadows.

I recommend this book to mostly girls, although some boys might like this. I recommend this when you are younger than eleven.