Customer Reviews

Pierced By A Sword

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

This book given to me by a friend. She told me it was a Catholic fiction novel and she was given a dozen of them for free. I remember looking at the thickness of the book (about 550 pages) and thinking that if they were giving it out for free and it was the author's first book, it was probably not worth my time. I was working on four or five other books at the time, so Pierced By a Sword would take an indefinate back seat to even my junk mail.
I just left it in my car. One afternoon an appointment was running over, so I brought it inside and began to read it. I finished this book in four days. Once I got started, evrything else had taken a back seat to this book! It was the most inspiring book I have ever read, and that says so much. While some conversations between the characters seemed a bit far fetched, and I was rather irritated with the detailed smoking and drinking of the characters (the aurthor must be a smoker to care to elaborate so much on the dirty habit) this was well compensated for by the tying together of the stories into one very powerful plot. I can't promote this book enough. The tidbits of information scattered heavily throughout the book will make anyone a more informed Catholic. Even protestants could learn a great deal about our shared Christianity. It provides fire for the lukewarm soul.
Every thing the author states through a character about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is absolutely true. All of the Marian Apprations are actual reportings. It is fun to look up additional informaton on presented subjects as you read along in the book. The way the story takes the current day facts then unfolds them to point toward one ending is wonderful.
This book is avaliable for free through St Jude Media. It ships in under a week.
Every single one of my friends have read this, including my best friend, my husband. This is a feat in itself since he limits himself to engineering manuals and text books. It was the first fiction he had read in entiretity since college. I have at present 5 copies. I keep extra to give out to people. This is a pretty popular read, so you could ask around and I am sure get more information from other people.

I have little if any time to read. Someone left this book in a chapel where the Blessed Sacrament was exposed. I started to read it, and suddenly I was finding time to read. I couldn't stop. I was up most nights unable to put it down. The story is wonderfully told, rock solid, unpredictable, human, with characters very easy to relate to. This book changed my life. It's as simple as that. I'm giving copies to everyone I know (I don't share mine because I keep rereading it and it is getting quite worn). I believe Bud McFarlane, jr did such a phenomenal job with his first novel because he allowed the Holy Spirit to work through him. I also have read "Conceived Without Sin" and loved it. Now I can't wait for Bud McFarlane, jr to write a third book!

This book really encouraged me when it was 1st published in 1995! I wish there were more writers like Bud McFarlane, jr and Frank Perretti (author of This Present Darkness)! This book teaches you a lot about the importance of faith and has a lot of action (particularlly near the end) in it as well!

Bud McFarlane captures the imagination of the reader by telling a little information on each of his characters. Nathan Payne is the strong-silent hero of this story deeply in love with the shy, charming Joanie Wheat. He's had some not-so-great relationships and Joanie helps him forget them and start anew. Becky Macadam is portrayed as beautiful and successful (with a tough exterior) but carries a baby of a guy who cared nothing for her. With the help of Joe Jackson, she is able to move on from her personal trauma. Then there's the friendly, laid back (but deeply devoted) priest Fr. Chet Sullivan. Set in the Midwest in Indiana, this book takes you through the lives of all of these characters and how they overcame their obstacles in life.

Both those who loved this book and those who hated it are right.

This book is not Dante, it is not Dostoevsky, it is not Dickens, it is not even John Grisham on a bad day. I'm guessing that the writing is probably on a level with a lot of the trashy novels that you see around the airport (though I have to confess that I've never read any of them--one novel by Grisham or Mitchener every decade or so is about as much time as I can stand to waste).

That being said, a lot of people LOVED this book. I read it when a fellow Catholic pressed it into my hands and told me that it was the best novel she had ever read and that I HAD to read it. Even though I winced at some of the writing, I did find the book to be a page turner, and it was exhilarating for me, and I'm sure for many others, to read an action adventure story that is based on an overtly Catholic view of both the spiritual and material realms.

Maybe it's because my husband shares his name with one of the main characters. Or, maybe it's because the book is inspiring. Whatever the reason, I really liked it. I couldn't wait to read more each night. Normally, I don't have time to read. However, I MADE time for this book. The book is available for free from Catholicity.com. So, there's no need to pay for it. The author wanted the book to be available for free because it is enlightening and actually a real wake-up call you get your act together. Although the book is fictional, the events within it could really happen and this is what caused me to try to be a better person and improve the way I live my life.

Reading this book brought me a new found faith in my religion, and in our God. Bud McFarland, Jr. is a very gifted and talented writter!!

I was at the National Teens Encounter Christ/Koinania convention in Green Bay this past May, and a friend asked me if I had read this book. He gave me a copy and I began reading it that weekend. A week later I found myself emerged in a book who's characters resembled many of my friends, and even myself. I couldn't put it down! I often found myself still reading at 2:00 AM, when I had to be to work at eight!! This book really hit home for me in many ways.

I was raised Catholic in Utah, and I found Bud's information about the area and the Mormons very interesting and on the nose. Since I was raised around them and that area, I knew what he was talking about! I can just imagine the Apperition of Mary on top of the Cathedral! (And yes, the Mormons did help with the restoration as Bud explains in the book.) There are a lot of areas that he touches on in this story that really come to heart. This book helped me to renew my faith, and bring me back to Christ, and the Catholic Church. I recently ordered 10 more, and have given over half those away. What a great way to minister! And if you go to their web site, you will find that you can order a free copy for yourself. What a concept!

Do yourself a favor, read this book!!

This is a great book. Since it's written as a fictional novel, it's very entertaining to read. But it's also informative, and a very powerful book. I especially liked the fact that the author seems to be a very orthodox Catholic, and isn't afraid to show the damage done by so-called "cafateria catholics" who are ruining the Church. This book also does a good job of illustrating the power of prayer and how your prayers really do make a difference in the spiritual warfare that is constantly taking place unseen by us throughout the world.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It ws a good story, I loved the characters. I would have loved it even without the solid backdrop of the Catholic Church. So many times people of faith are portrayed as freaks and weirdos, that did not happen here. It also helped me, through the story to look at my own relationship with the Church and strengthen it. It made me feel good to be Catholic. I just wish that there was more fiction of this type out there.

As a very anti-Catholic Protestant, I tried several times to read this book. Eventually it won me over and then I couldn't put it down. Less than a year later I returned to the Catholic Church after being away 23 years.

Pierced By A Sword (and Conceived Without Sin) are novels that challenge you, make you think and at times even make you angry. But when you are finished, you will be a better Christian.

Hurry up Bud, I can't wait for your third novel!

I believe Bud was inspired to write this book. To me, his image of suffering and bravery for the faith accurately portrayed the same suffering and bravery required of the early martyrs in the Catholic church. Earlier reviews state that Mary is stressed too much in this book, and maybe that is the case. However, in saying the Rosary properly, as do the characters in this book, the main focus of the prayers is Jesus, the events of his birth, his ministry, and his death and resurrection, while calling on Mary to intercede for us. I really could relate to the parish priest Fr. Chet and felt that I knew him through the many good priests that I have known over the years. They've gotten a bad rap in the press over the past several years and it was good to see a story that depicted a sexually mature strong man truly devoted to following God's Will even to the point of dying for Him.