Penny's Gift [Mass Market Paperback]

Edna Ventre-Auerfeld (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 2004

She can cure the sick. She can give life to the dying. But can she save herself?

Penny Chaney was a living miracle. The victim of a lethally sudden virus, no medicine could help her, and no doctor could bring her back. Then, in the realm between this world and the next, she was given a choice: enter the hereafter, or return to her life with the extraordinary ability to heal others -- but at a great personal price. Penny chose life.

When her exceptional power is discovered, the world's reaction ranges from reverent awe to outraged disbelief. Penny and her family find themselves besieged by devoted followers as well as crass opportunists -- two of whom are seeking her out, each for personal reasons. One, driven by warped fanaticism, wants to kill her. The other will try to show her why she was chosen, and help her face the final, terrible cost of

PENNY'S GIFT

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A fascinating premise receives a muddled, lackluster treatment in this metaphysical debut novel, which examines the consequences of one ordinary woman's messianic gift. When Penny Chaney, a housewife and mother of three, contracts a mysterious virus and descends into a coma, strange things begin to happen around her in the hospital-a woman with severe diabetes finds herself completely cured; a girl with acute leukemia starts skipping down the hallway. Meanwhile, Penny lingers on a long misty bridge, somewhere between this world and the next. A disembodied voice claims there has only been one other like her before and gives her a choice: she can either go into the hereafter or return to earth as a healer. Penny decides to return and upon waking, finds herself besieged by the sick and downtrodden, who have already dubbed her the Mother Healer. The novel quickly deteriorates as Penny adjusts to her new status and a radical religious group attempts to kill her (in an effort to prove her messiah status). Ventre-Auerfeld offers some half-baked meditations on religion and morality, but in the end, the mystery of Penny's giftâ€"how she came to possess it, what she's supposed to do with it and what it signifiesâ€"is never resolved, leaving readers more confused than enlightened.
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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Paraview Pocket Books (February 24, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743482069
• ISBN-13: 978-0743482066
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,939,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very special story, March 2, 2004

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Penny's Gift (Mass Market Paperback)

Penny Cheney is a stay at home mother of four year old twin girls and a baby boy while her husband Hal works at International Supplies. However, Penny becomes ill and keels over in her kitchen. Hal rushes her to Southlawn Hospital where she is placed in the intensive care ward in a comatose state with no hope of recovery.

While Penny remains near death, miracles begin to happen in the hospital. Reporter Louis Klotz whose asthma is cured realizes that Penny is the center of incredible miracle worker of individuals dying from incurable diseases. His article brings the world to this small hospital.

When Penny regains consciousness she tells Hal that she was given a choice of entering the light or returning to her family with a healing gift not seen on earth in two millenniums. Penny will soon learn that her gift is also a curse as the demands on her become unbelievable with some people willing to endanger her loved ones to force her hand.

PENNY'S GIFT is an incredible thought provoking tale that focuses on the impact on a divine miracle worker who just wants to be a good loving mother and wife, not a save the world second coming. The story line starts like a typical family drama, but quickly turns into a fabulous parable from the moment Penny receives Hobson's Choice until the climax of dealing with an endless demand. This is a great insightful tale of sacrifice from an author who has quite a future if this "daydream:" is any indication of her talent.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Penny Pays a High Price: A Spiritual Adventure, February 18, 2004

By 

Tanya Nadas (Monroe, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Penny's Gift (Mass Market Paperback)

In Penny's Gift author Edna Venture-Auerfeld, swiftly brings us along with Penny, the mother of three small children, to a life or death decision. This female savior/hero is a sympathetic character who has to pay the ultimate price just to be with her family - a luxury so many of us foolishly take for granted every day. In this fast-paced adventure the author skillfully conveys her insight into human relationships, psychology and spirituality in a manner very rarely seen these days. Penny's Gift is an escapade in which the reader feels Penny's bombardment with real-life characters - some of whom you don't want to meet up with in real life. The book addresses the sacrifice of motherhood and it celebrates its rewards. No question, given the choice, I would do as Penny did and stay with my young children and husband no matter what the price. What would you do? Read it and decide for yourself. In the meantime I'm just waiting for Ms. Auerfeld's next page turner.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Insightful Story, March 17, 2004

By 

Phyllis A Jozwik (Edison, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Penny's Gift (Mass Market Paperback)

Penny Chaney, and all of the characters, are just your typical everyday people. Being a housewife and a mother I could relate with Penny's decisions and dilemas. I'm glad that I didn't have to make her final decision.

Instead of focusing on the sadness of the ICU, Edna Ventre-Auerfeld shows us how everybody reacts differently to these types of situations. I found myself laughing instead of crying.

The whole book makes you realize how silly we can truly be. How we cannot believe that somebody wants to do good in this world with no benefits to themself. How gullible and easily fooled we can be. How everybody tries to capitalize on other people's misfortunes. This was definitely a story for the tabloids.

The best part, you couldn't figure out how it was going to end until you got to the last chapter.