Customer Reviews

Passing Through Paradise

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

 

 

There is a great mystery that lies beyond the cover of this book. I thought it was kind of slow at the beginning, but then once things started to get "stirred" up it became more exciting. Trust me, you may think the beginning is super slow but don't put it down because there is page turning material ahead!!

Passing through Paradise is an enjoyable story with believable characters and a well-paced plot. The same could be said about many other murder/mystery books. However, the absolute clarity of the author's vision regarding small town, rural, Minnesota life is what makes this book stronger and finer than the majority.

John Schreiber has captured the essence of what is ugly in the culture of small town life. Anyone who has grown up in such a town understands how the denizens will close ranks against "outsiders" to protect "their own," even when those they protect are bullies, ruffians, and louts. Anyone who has grown up in such a town understands how, when they are very young, life-long residents are pigeon holed into roles which they are never allowed to escape. Anyone who has grown up in such a town understands how people with amazing potential choose to stay in an environment which stifles them and traps them in lives of quiet misery forever rather than risk leaving the security of what is known to face the fearful mysteries of the outer world.

Another strength in this novel is the characterization of the teenage characters. The author obviously knows adolescents and their struggles very well. Nothing sets my teeth on edge more than authors who write about adolescents without a clue of what real teenagers actually think and feel and do. The kids in this book were very real to me. In fact, I find myself thinking about what happened to them after the end of the book and how their lives would turn out. This, in my opinion, is the ultimate compliment for a writer. His characters became real to me. (It is the Velveteen Rabbit Effect, I guess.)

Some of the characters in this story personify the beauty and resilience of the human spirit. They have the attributes of humanity that make one willing to get up and try again, even when one would rather just lie down and give up. The attributes that make one continue to try to (a) figure out what is right and (b) do what is right, even though it seems one struggles against insurmountable odds. Other characters personify the nasty, self-centered, bullying elements of the human spirit. However, the characters, for the most part, are not presented as "heroes" and "villains." They are presented as flawed people who are trying to cope with their situations in the only ways they know how. Some of the characters who would be considered minor are the most intriguing and well drawn.

The point of view character, Angela, a precocious nine-year-old, is sometimes a bit too insightful, and her relationship with her English teacher dad is perhaps a bit too perfect, but these things did not lessen the impact of the story for me. Regarding the element of Christianity within the novel, I have mixed feelings. First, the Christianity was presented as a part of the main characters' overall personality. Unlike many stories which attempt to jam the You-Must-Be-Born-Again philosophy down the readers' throats, the message was presented gently and by characters who were struggling with major issues in their own faith. On the down side, I felt the Christian code of living presented was just a little too pat. Perhaps that is just me being envious of those whose faith is simple and pure as opposed to the convoluted and chaotic dance around the Almighty that characterizes my own religious experiences. At any rate, I don't believe anyone would find the religious element offensive; I certainly didn't.

In conclusion to this wordy review, I'd like to state that I read John's first book. After reading it, I thought, "Well, that was okay." Then I moved on to other things and didn't think about it much. This second novel is so much richer and fuller and deeper than the first. (I'm not saying the first was bad, mind you. It wasn't!) The growth of his skill as a novelist and storyteller was impressive. I look forward to reading his next efforts eagerly.

Looking for a little-known modern masterpiece? This combines mystery, action, great characters, all set in a believable small town in the Midwest--one nicknamed "Purgatory" by the residents. The nickname is not too far from the truth. It's also the story of a young girl dealing with grief and growing up. Read this. You will not be disappointed.

Passing Through Paradise seems like a sweet, innocent story told from the perspective of young protagonist Angela. However, on further reading, the reader discovers a complex story involving a murder, the politics of small town life, and the complexities affecting a teacher in the community. This story had me hooked from the beginning, and I could identify with some of themes of acceptance and the importance of change and growth. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for an exciting read with identifiable characters and themes.

I don't know whether to call this a murder mystery, a suspense novel, a coming of age novel, or just plain, old-fashioned fun. It kept me guessing until the end. At first I hesitated reading it (though it was recommended by a friend) because I thought it would be typical religious fiction--a thinly disguised Bible tract. This is nothing like that. It has some talk about Christianity because some of the characters are devout Christians. Everything was believeable, nothing seemed contrived. The novel is entertaining. If all Christian fiction was like this, I'd read more of it.

It looks as if the author is bringing out a third book. Bring it on!

I reread this novel and my opinion (which was already high) went even higher. First, Schreiber creates a fun and exciting plot dealing with death (Is it suicide--why? Or murder--who?) in a small town. Secondly, Schreiber adds fantastic small-town characters and emotionally-conflicted central characters. Next, Schreiber adds some universal themes such as the nature of change, grief, and forgiveness. Finally, Schreiber twists the plot in unexpected ways (but if you're a careful reader, everything is foreshadowed cleverly, so you may catch it--I didn't on the first reading). Then, just to make sure that you know he cares about the whole project, he writes with some of the cleanest prose I've read in years.

Overall, this is an honest novel with some Christian (and non-Christian) characters. Too bad it's promoted some places as a Christian novel. That's bad marketing. Most Christians I know avoid quality fiction unless the novels have "historical settings" with predictable plots and wooden characters.

This book is for those who have been looking for a solidly written, realistic novel with believable characters. It has a bit of everything: humor, romance, suspense, action, mystery, and great characters.