Customer Reviews

Leah's Way: One Woman's Search for Justification and Love

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4 star:		(2)
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Jody Maier, The Riverfront Book Club (Yonkers, New York)

Leah's Way is a powerful "can't put it down read" that touches the soul, invigorates the heart, and leaps at the mind. Richard Botelho's vividly and beautifully rendered descriptions of nature enhance the novel's central theme of the duality of the human condition: the struggle between our earthly and spiritual essences. His smooth prose style realistically portrays the intense emotions of his characters as they cope with trusting themselves, trusting life, and trusting God. This is a novel to be savored for its rich and meaningful messages about one's search for purpose in life, about the importance of love for family, for friends, and for community, and about the courage it takes to meet life's challenges. In a natural progression of his story, the author leads the reader to the conclusion that it is love, hope, and forgiveness that enables us to overcome our human frailities.

I read this book on advice from a friend in a reading group. Their group tries different genres as a matter of course. At first I was skeptical of reading a spiritual book since I don't typically enjoy that category of fiction. But Leah's Way is unique. There's nothing like it that I've ever come across. I was most impressed with the quality of the writing. Wonderfully written book. The descriptions of nature are as fine as I've read and the dialogue is very entertaining. The secondary characters are captivating and very true to life. But the main character of Leah was hard to fathom some of the time. Talk about stubborn! And frustrating, because she wouldn't take obvious actions that could have made her life so much easier. It is also true that the book is sermonizing at times, replete with the typical Christian message, but surprisingly I didn't mind it much because the book produces raw, real characters and circumstances. If you are a reader who enjoys different, hard to categorize books you'll like this book. If you want typical feel good and pure entertainment, pass on it. This read is a serious read, not for amateurs.

Our reading group loved Leah's Way! This book had a very unusual story that our group really enjoyed - and it led to lively discussions. The story is so unique and unusual, we couldn't get it out of our minds. Leah is an intriguing character and there are many lessons in her life that can be applied to readers.

We all highly recommend this novel.

Finally, I found a novel that enriches me and an understanding of life. Leah's Way is so good I think it might be the best novel I've ever come across. It's a little gem. The story is so captivating it literally flew by. The descriptions of scenery and characters are outstanding. And the characters live! It was over before I knew it. Leah is an inspiration to us all. Get the book. And give it to everyone you know. I can't wait to read the next novel by this author.

This book is a surprise! Well-written, strong character development, and a story that grabs you from page one. Leah is a woman not to be forgotten and the journey she travels in self-discovery is one from which we can all draw meaning and apply to our own lives. Hard to believe this is written by a first-time novelist!

It's about time that a novel exceeded my expectations. Leah's Way is a wonderful novel that inspired me to read more about the plight of the less fortunate in America. Written in a classical style, this is the kind of novel you can't put down until you're finished. It's riveting. As the leader of a reading group, I recommended this book to another group and then had my own group read it as well. The interpretations of the book covered a wide spectrum. What we all agreed upon was that Leah's Way touches on a number of fascinating themes:

1. How have women changed since the 1950s?
2. Has the search for meaning changed much over time and does faith in God provide the answer to the age-old question of "what is the meaning of life?"
3. Why isn't more being done to help the destitute?
4. Is Leah a heroine or not?
5. How dysfuctional are families, and is Leah's family really all that different from so many families out there?
6. Is tragedy necessary for understanding?
7. What is the purpose of life?
8. Is romantic love all it's hyped up to be?
9. Is life on the road an escape or a refuge?
10. Why is the human condition fraught with so much peril?

One thing is certain: there is no other novel like Leah's Way. Definitely controversial. Although I've listed ten themes that emerge from the book there are countless others. And that is part of this novel's appeal: it is deep, curious, dubious at times, reflective, sad, yet wonderfully uplifting in its conclusion. If you like a story where the human heart is relentless in its quest for understanding and purpose, where goodness comes forth from much suffering, you'll love Leah's Way. Although certainly not what you expect from its cover, Leah's Way is a real find and a book worth talking about with others.

"Leah's Way" is a well written book that helps you have empathy for all those homeless people you see (or don't want to see) on city streets. It's a compelling story of every person's dignity and worth, no matter how depressed, filthy, sick and hopeless they appear. It is also a wonderful parable of how one woman hangs on to her faith in God even though she has lost everything else and how that faith in a loving God is the most important possession anyone could have. I was also thinking of how the book shows that one must choose to love others and let go of past abuse and disappointments if one is to truly live.

I was so happy to have come accross Leah's Way.I have never read a book like this one before.It made me want to read more from this author.Being an avid reader, this book pulled me in right away and I felt very connected to the characters.Richard Botelho is a fantastic author and must write another soon! Thanks for a great read!

This book is one of the great character studies I have ever read. The writing is excellent and the message heart rendering. Leah is shown to be a wonderful person of faith and an inspiration for everyone. I wish all books could feature such in-depth characters. I recommend this book to everyone, not only readers of literary fiction.

This book should be made into a movie! An emotional roller coaster that left me feeling so sorry for the main character, Leah. I loved her family and The Explorer was a great character. All the characters were, really. The plotline kept my interest and the last half of the book is great writing. But I had to work from getting too depressed. If a person can see the joy that comes from the ending, then it makes the rest of the harshness of Leah's life worth it. I'll tell all of my friends about this book and my book club, too. This isn't just a novel for women, but I think women will appreciate it more.