Home for Christmas [Hardcover]

Andrew M. Greeley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 13, 2009

Petey Pat Kane and Mariana Pia Pelligrino have been in love with each other their whole lives. But on a night that is supposed to be one of the best of their lives, Peter makes a choice that forces him to leave Chicago—and Mariana—behind. Guilt leads him into the Army, where he becomes Captain Kane, war hero. But nothing can make him forget his love for Mariana.

On his third deployment in Iraq, Peter is injured and finds himself both alive and dead on a wondrous spiritual journey where he is given a second chance at life from God Himself. With Christmas approaching, time is running out for Peter to complete the most important mission of his life: convincing himself that he and Mariana were meant to share a special message of love with the world.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Only one book a year can claim to be the schlockiest, most saccharine Christmas book, and this is it. Petey Pat Kane and Mariana Pelligrino have loved each other since the first grade, but a tragic prom night accident sends Kane running. He ends up a grunt in Iraq, where he's killed—briefly—by a suicide bomber. While dead, he goes on a spiritual journey, meets God and learns that he is destined to be Mariana's lover and protector. Back among the living, stubborn Petey's reminded by his local priest what's really important in life. The simplistic notions of the afterlife, spirituality and love are like something borrowed from a third-grade writing project. (Oct.)
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Review

“This book should be in every bedside table and in every soldier’s pack—a transcendent tale to rank with A Christmas Carol.”—David Hagberg, New York Times bestselling author

“Few writers have what it takes to make God a character in fiction, but Andrew Greeley pulls it off with charm and élan in this delightful love story.”—Stephen Coonts, New York Times bestselling author

"Warm-hearted, but clear-sighted about the human condition, Home for Christmas is a lovely book. These are characters you will carry with you."--Barbara D'Amato

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Forge Books; First Edition edition (October 13, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765322501
• ISBN-13: 978-0765322500
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 6.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #885,156 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Inspirational must read for everyone, November 9, 2009

By 

Deborah Haupt (Portage des Sioux, MO United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Home for Christmas (Hardcover)

Before I talk about Fr. Greeley's wonderful new novel I want to say Thank You God for letting us have him in our lives a while longer and hope that my personal prayers to "The One" might have reached his ears. As many of you know Fr. Greeley survived a horrendous accident last November and nearly died. With the continued effort of his family, friends, therapists and physicians he continues to recover and improve.
In his new novel Father Greeley gives us an unforgettable love story of two remarkable characters who from childhood have been loved and in love with each other. He also takes us on an incredible journey of our hero Peter Patrick Kane from his near fatal injury while serving in Iraq. This is a tale full of whimsy, full of wit and full of faith. Faith in not only God but in the power of love. His characters are unforgettable and so intimately detailed that you can't believe the whole novel only consists of 192 pages. Quite a feat and yet knowing our prolific author not a surprise. From his uncomplicated yet complex Peter to his enigmatic heroine Mariana to his varied and many supporting cast which includes one of his most beloved characters from other novels Bishop Blackie. His storyline is fresh and unique and yet it's as old as time itself. His dialogue is descriptive and fills your minds with the pictures conjured by his words. It's full of color and light and just enough blarney and fey to make it uniquely his own. The love story is sweet and heart wrenching and often times brings you to tears and not always tears of joy. Father Andrew Greeley is or should be considered on of the greatest living authors of our time, in my humble opinion. In his ageless wisdom he has brought us countless tales of love, of crisis, of human frailty, but mostly of humanity at it's best. And this inspiring holiday novel is right there as one of his best. If you're not acquainted with this gifted artist then this is the perfect first read for you. And if you are a fan and have read him be prepared to be in awe once again.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Last chance, November 19, 2009

By 

P. A. Lawless (Durham, NC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Home for Christmas (Hardcover)

After Andrew Greeley's accident in January, 2009, this may be his last novel. It can well stand as an ultimate work, full of his vision of God as a comedian, a giver of multiple chances. It stars a young soldier, killed in Iraq by an IED, one of those indiscriminate weapons from hell. But its long term effects remain subject to the Lord of the Universe. This is not the God of Nuala Anne McGrail Coyne who works in subtle and mysterious ways to solve her clients' problems with mystical Irish insight. Nor is it the reasoned god of Archbishop Blackie (who now may not quite reach the throne of Peter, despite his recent rapid ascent). This is the God of Archangel Michael (who resembles the Chicago Bull's Michael) and Gabriella, Who does not fear to pull out all the stops in accomplishing His goals, with the cooperation of his gentle subjects.

Although the novel lacks some of the detailed character development we love in Greeley, it makes for a good story in anticipation of the greatest story we know, the Christmas gift of God to us all.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE ONE to READ, December 5, 2009

By 

Jeanie DeVincenzo "Jeanie" (Madison, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Home for Christmas (Hardcover)

I have to say that this was one amazing book. Iread it in two sittings, probably totalling 5 hours. I could not put it down. It is the first book I read by this author, but not the last. I was so excited when I won an advanced copy from the publisher and am so grateful to have been touched by this book.
It was a story of Love Faith and Loyalty.
Petey Kane and Pia met in 2nd grade. It is a story of how their lives changed at their senior prom and how Petey was changed while in Iraq. It is a story that you do not want to miss!